Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales and Export Figures for July 2009

Tokyo, Aug 28, 2009 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for July 2009.

Production: total and in Japan

Total global production for July came in at 63,540 units, a decline of 45.6 percent over July 2008 and the seventeenth consecutive monthly decrease since March 2008. Production volume in Japan at 35,781 units was down 54.2 percent as a 60.6 percent decrease in passenger car (27,385 units) and a 3.6 percent fall in commercial vehicle (8,396 units) output over the same month last year saw year-on-year output fall for the ninth consecutive month.

Sales in Japan

Vehicle sales in Japan in July totaled 14,422 units, a 6.3 percent year-on-year decrease and the 23rd consecutive monthly decline since September 2007. Sales of passenger cars at 10,374 units were 8.5 percent down while sales of commercial vehicles at 4,048 units were 0.2 percent down. Registered vehicle sales volume at 5,412 units was 8.7 percent down on the same month last year, despite 33.0 percent and 27.0 percent increases respectively in year-on-year sales of the Colt and Colt Plus models. Minicar sales volume at 9,010 units was 4.8 percent down.

Production overseas

Overseas production volume totaled 27,759 units, 28.1 percent down over July last year and the seventeenth consecutive monthly decline. By region, output in North America was 67.8 percent down at 1,367 units as vehicles continued to roll off the line for the second straight month after a three month halt in production. In Europe, output was just 0.1 percent down at 4,441 units helped by firm sales of the Colt in Germany. In Asia, output was 28.3 percent down at 18,980 units as a 28.9 percent increase at China Motor Corp in Taiwan and a 152.1 percent increase at South East (Fujian) Motor in China failed to counterbalance continuing declines in Indonesia and Thailand.

Export shipments from Japan

Total exports from Japan of 17,161 units were 63.6 percent down on July 2008, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Exports to Asia at 2,939 units were 7.1 percent down. Exports to Europe at 2,289 units were 88.4 percent down. Export shipments to North America at 5,851 units increased by 9.4 percent over the same month last year on the back of firm sales of the Outlander in Canada.

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was established in 1970 and is one of the few automobile companies in the world that produces a full line of automotive products ranging from 660-cc mini cars and passenger cars to commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and buses. The company also operates consumer financing services and provides this to its customer base. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com .