Mitsubishi Motors Announces Production, Sales & Export Figures For April 2010

TOKYO, JAPAN – May 31, 2010: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for April 2010.

Total global production for April 2010 came in at 79,948 units, 27.7 percent up over the same month last year and the sixth consecutive monthly increase since November 2009. Production volume in Japan at 40,237 units was 76.1 percent up from April 2009, the fifth consecutive monthly year-on-year increase. Passenger car output at 34,993 units was 89.9 percent up over the same month last year. Commercial vehicle output at 5,244 units was 18.6 percent up year-on-year.

Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in April totalled 10,727 units, 24.7 percent up on the same month last year and the sixth consecutive monthly year-on-year increase. Sales of passenger cars at 7,749 units were 29.2 percent up and sales of commercial vehicles at 2,978 units were 14.3 percent up over April 2009. Registered vehicle sales volume at 4,938 units was 42.5 percent up on the same month last year. Minicar sales volume at 6,329 units was 14.7 percent up over April 2009.

Production overseas
Overseas production volume in April totalled 39,711 units, 69.4 percent up over the same month last year and the sixth consecutive monthly year-on-year increase. By region, output in Asia at 31,482 units was 108.6 percent up year-on-year, boosted chiefly by 8.6 percent, 105.4 percent, 313.7 percent and 80.6 percent increases at China Motor Corp. in Taiwan, South East (Fujian) Motor in China, MMTh in Thailand and KRM in Indonesia respectively. In North America, where production was halted temporarily in April last year, output was 2,179 units. In Europe output at 2,739 units was 53.59 percent down year-on-year as sales at NedCar remained sluggish. In South America output at 2,910 units was 29.3 percent up on April last year as sales at MMC Automotores do Brasil Ltda. continued to recover.

Export shipments from Japan
Total exports from Japan of 27,878 units were 195.4 percent up on April 2009, marking the fifth consecutive monthly year-on-year rise. Exports to Asia at 3,192 units were 155.6 percent up over the same period last year on the back of higher shipments to China and helped by a continuing rise in shipments to Malaysia. Shipments to North America at 3,214 units were 104.6 percent up year-on-year as sales in the United States and Canada grew by 172.0 percent and 41.0 percent respectively over the same month last year. Exports to Europe at 11,417 units were 860.2 percent up year-on-year, driven mainly by a significant recovery in shipments to Russia and by major increases in shipments to France, Italy and Spain.