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

CIRENCESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – November 27, 2009: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for October 2009.

Production: Global total and Japan
Total global production for October came in at 85,080 units, a decline of 29.6 percent over the same month last year and the fifteenth consecutive monthly decrease since August 2008. Production volume in Japan at 46,416 units was 43.0 percent down year-on-year, the twelfth consecutive decline, with passenger car output at 40,580 units down 45.4 percent year-on-year and commercial vehicle output at 5,836 units down 17.8 percent year-on-year.

Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in October totalled 12,550 units, 12.5 percent down on the same month last year and the first year-on-year decrease in three months. Sales of passenger cars at 9,421 units were 16.1 percent down year-on-year while sales of commercial vehicles at 3,129 units were 0.2 percent up year-on-year. Registered vehicle sales volume at 4,875 units was 29.1 percent up on the same month last year, bolstered primarily by 126.9 percent and 117.1 percent increases respectively in year-on-year sales of Colt and Colt Plus models. City car sales volume at 7,675 units was 27.4 percent down year-on-year despite a 20.1 percent rise in City car sales driven by the introduction of the Black series.

Production overseas
Overseas production volume totalled 38,666 units, 2.1 percent down over October last year and returned to the string of year-on-year decreases that had been interrupted by the first rise in 15 months in September. By region, output in North America at 2,524 units was 52.5 percent down year-on-year. In Europe, output at 2,077 units was 77.2 percent down year-on-year as the ending of scrap incentives in Germany impacted the market. In Asia, output at 31,168 units was 34.5 percent up year-on-year helped by 96.4 percent and 261.0 percent increases respectively at China Motor Corp. in Taiwan and South East (Fujian) Motor in China.

Export shipments from Japan
Total exports from Japan of 24,857 units were 53.1 percent down in October 2008 and marked the twelfth consecutive year-on-year decrease. Exports to Asia at 3,730 units were 24.6 percent up year-on-year on the back of stronger sales in China and Malaysia. Export shipments to North America at 5,272 units rose by 17.7 percent over the same month last year helped by strong sales of the Outlander in both the U.S. and Canada. Exports to Europe at 3,529 units were 86.0 percent down year-on-year, again due mainly to very slow sales in Russia