Mitsubishi Outsells Toyota in Indonesia

10/24/96

Comline has reported that Mitsubishi is taking Toyota's place in Indonesia as the country's automobile sales leader. Toyota has held the top position for the last eleven years, but is losing it to rival Mitsubishi this year, due to the tariff-free import of inexpensive cars from Korea.

Mitsubishi sold 54,613 cars in Indonesia in September, just over Toyota's 54,455. Industry analysts say the introduction Korean built cars in Indonesia cut into sales of Toyota Corollas and multipurpose vehicles, but did not impact Mitsubishi's sales, as that company has far fewer types of cars on the market.

The Korean imports are in the same class as the Corolla, but cost only half as much. Toyota shipped 861 Corollas to Indonesia in January, compared to just 261 last month.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel