Mitsubishi Motors announces production, sales and export figures for July 2008

TOKYO : August 27, 2008 - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for July 2008.

• Production: total and in Japan
Total global production came in at 113,538 units, a decline of 0.9 percent over July 2007 and the fifth consecutive monthly decrease since March. Production volume in Japan at 74,909 units was up 11.1 percent as a 12.1 percent increase in passenger car and 4.0 percent rise in commercial vehicle output saw the 22nd consecutive month of year-on-year growth and a new record for July since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. This growth was driven principally by a 53.5 percent increase in output (16,232 units) of the New Outlander, which continues to sell briskly in European and Chinese markets, and by a 18.0% increase (27,585 units) in output of the Lancer on the back of strong sales in Russia, North America and Middle East & African markets.


• Sales in Japan

Vehicle sales in Japan in July totaled 15,393 units, a 9.2 percent decrease year-on-year and the 11th consecutive monthly decline since September 2007. Passenger car (registrations and mini-car) sales of 11,335 units and commercial vehicle sales of 4,058 units were 9.2 percent and 9.3 percent down respectively on the same month last year. Highlights for the month included an 11 percent and a 9.4 percent increase in sales of the Colt series and of the Pajero Mini respectively.


• Production overseas

Overseas production volume totaled 38,629 units, 18.1 percent down over July last year and the fifth consecutive monthly decline. By region, in Asia output at MMPC^*1 in the Philippines and at KRM^*2 in Indonesia rose by 17.8 percent and 59.6 percent respectively. In North America output at 4,244 units was 26.0 percent down as production levels were adjusted for slow sales in the U.S.
*1 MMPC: Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation
*2 KRM: P.T. Krama Yudha Ratu Motors


• Export shipments from Japan

Total exports from Japan of 47,119 units were 5.0 percent up on July 2007, marking the 21st consecutive month of year-on-year increases and setting a new record for July since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. Exports to Europe at 19,751 units were 6.5 percent up on July2007 buoyed by continuing strong sales in the Ukraine and Russia.

[Source : MITSUBISHI]