Mitsubishi Motors Reports September Sales
1 October 1997
Mitsubishi Motors September Vehicle Sales Up 4 PercentMontero Sport and Eclipse Continue to Boost Company's Performance CYPRESS, Calif., Oct. 1 -- Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA) reported September, 1997 sales of 16,031 units, up 4 percent from the same period last year. MMSA's year-to-date sales volume of 147,603 represents an increase of 5.1 percent over the 140,328 units sold in the first nine months of 1996. MMSA's September sales leader was the Eclipse sports coupe with 4,622 units sold and together with its sibling Eclipse Spyder convertible, reached a year-to-date sales total of more than 47,000 units. The Galant mid-size sedan recorded 2,366 units sold for the month. In sum, sales of U.S.-built Mitsubishi Motors' vehicles totaled 7,744 units, declining 30.9 percent from September, 1996. Mitsubishi Motors' sport utility vehicles continued to be in strong demand in September with Montero Sport sales totaling 2,724 units. Sales of MMSA's luxury sport utility vehicle, the Montero, reached 783 units. For the year, Mitsubishi Motors' sport utility vehicle sales totaled 28,206 units, 223 percent ahead of last year. Kevin Ormes, group vice president of sales and marketing, remarked that "September's sales performance shows continuing demand in the market for light trucks, especially sport utility vehicles. Our Montero Sport is selling very well and with its aggressive styling and excellent value, we believe it will continue to do well in the market." Ormes noted that the "Built for Living" brand image campaign and new products, including the Mirage, Diamante and Montero Sport, have significantly helped boost MMSA's sales performance in 1997. The Diamante luxury performance sedan reached 1,259 unit sales in September, continuing an upward sales trend and again proving that its style, performance and value make for a very competitive combination when compared to other offerings in the market. The stylish and affordable Mirage sedan and coupe reached a combined total of 3,040 units up 18 percent over last year. Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles, including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles. Sept. '97 Sept. '96 % Change Month/YTD Month/YTD Month/YTD Passenger Car Sales* 12,524/119,190 14,600/128,399 -14%/-7% Sport Utility Vehicles** 3,507/28,206 552/8,723 +535%/+223% Trucks*** 0/207 257/3,206 -100%/-93.5% Total Vehicle Sales 16,031/147,603 15,409/140,328 +4%/+5.1% U.S.-Built Vehicle Sales 7,744/81,814 11,208/ 96,327 -30.9%/-15.1% (Includes Eclipse/ Eclipse Spyder/Galant) * Above totals include sales of U.S.-built Mitsubishi Motors vehicles ** Includes Montero and Montero Sport *** Truck sales include inventory stock only; MMSA stopped selling the Mighty Max pickup truck early in 1996 Note sales chart format has changed slightly: SUV's are now broken out separately, therefore dramatically altering year-to-date volume and percentages which reflect this change. SOURCE Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America