Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales and Export Figures For August 2009

CIRENCESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – September 30, 2009: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for August 2009.

Production: total and in Japan
Total global production for August came in at 62,924 units, a decline of 32.1 percent over August 2008 and the eighteenth consecutive monthly decrease since March 2008. Production volume in Japan was down 42.9 percent at 32,824 units as a 15.9 percent increase in commercial vehicle output (6,276 units) failed to counter a 49.0 percent decrease in passenger car output (26,548 units) over the same month last year to see year-on-year output fall for the tenth consecutive month.

Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in August totalled 12,082 units to record a 15.0 percent year-on-year rise and the first increase in 24 months since September 2007. Sales of passenger cars were 18.2 percent up at 9,291 units while sales of commercial vehicles were 5.6 percent up at 2,791 units. Registered vehicle sales volume, at 4,519 units, was 22.8 percent up on the same month last year, driven by a 77.0 percent, 48.4 percent, 17.9 percent and 36.8 percent increases respectively in year-on-year sales of the Colt, Colt Plus, Outlander and Pajero models. City car sales volume showed a 10.8 percent increase at 7,563 units, with a 20.0 percent, 22.6 percent and 20.0 percent increases respectively in sales of the Pajero Mini, Minicab Truck and Minicab Van models.

Production overseas
Overseas production volume totalled 30,100 units, 14.5 percent down over August last year and the eighteenth consecutive monthly decline. By region, output in North America was 54.3 percent down at 2,447 units with production returning to a 4-day week basis. In Europe, output was 14.7 percent up at 2,308 units helped by firm sales of the Colt in Germany. In Asia, output was 7.7 percent down at 22,226 units as a 169.3 percent increase at China Motor Corp in Taiwan and a 229.2 percent increase at South East (Fujian) Motor in China failed to offset continuing low levels of production in Indonesia and Thailand.

Export shipments from Japan

Exports from Japan totalled 16,720 units, 66.8 percent down in August 2008, marking the tenth consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Exports to Asia, at 2,733 units, were just 4.9 percent down on the back of firm shipments to China. Exports to Europe were 83.0 percent down at 4,143 units due mainly to slow sales in Russia. Export shipments to North America, at 3,138 units, fell by 32.5 percent over the same month last year.