Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for September 2008 and the first half of fiscal 2008.
September 2008
# Production: total and in Japan
Total global production came in at 121,449 units, a decline of 2.2 percent over September 2007 and marking the seventh consecutive monthly decrease.
Production volume in Japan at 84,146 units was up 10.8 percent as a 12.8 percent increase in passenger car output outpaced a 7.9 percent decrease in commercial vehicle output to see the first monthly year-on-year increase since July this year.
This growth was driven principally by a 27.4 percent increase in output (33,382 units) of the new Lancer series in line with brisk sales in Russia and in Middle East & African markets.
# Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in September totaled 18,189 units, a 19.2 percent year-on-year decrease and the 13th consecutive monthly decline since September 2007. Registered vehicle sales were 33.2 percent down on the same month last year despite 6.0 percent and 3.0 percent increases in sales of 2009 model year Outlander and Colt Plus models respectively.
Total minicar sales volume was 10.7 percent down despite the addition of the new Toppo to the lineup and firm sales of the 2009 model year Pajero Mini.
# Production overseas
Overseas production volume totaled 37,303 units, 22.6 percent down over September last year and the seventh consecutive monthly decline. By region, Asia came in with 23,643 units, a 26.0 percent decrease as a 10 percent increase in production volume in Indonesia (KRM) on the back of healthy sales failed to offset the end of MMC model assembly at Proton in Malaysia.
In North America volume remained virtually unchanged while in Europe output reflected the change-over between the previous generation Colt and the next generation Colt whose full scale production is due to start in October.
# Export shipments from Japan
Total exports from Japan of 51,740 units were 8.3 percent down on September 2007, registering the first decline in 23 months. Exports to Asia were slightly up over last year, this accounted for mainly by an increase in knock-down kit shipments.
Exports to North America at 3,773 units were 21.8 percent down year-on-year, reflecting slow unit sales. Exports to Europe at 21,853 units were 21.1 percent down on September 2007, a reflection of slower sales in the countries of Western Europe.
April - September 2008
# Production: total and Japan
The first six months of fiscal 2008 ending September 30 saw total global production of 634,816 units, 6.5 percent down on the same period in 2007 and marking the first year-on-year decline since 1H 2006.
Production in Japan totaled 410,601 units, a 4.8 percent increase year-on-year, marking the fourth consecutive half-year rise since 1H 2005 and the highest level since the company spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003.
This owed mainly to a 13.8 percent increase in output (156,450 units) of the Lancer series for Russia and for Middle East & Africa and a 16.8 percent increase in output (86,218 units) of the Outlander series for Europe and China.
# Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales on the Japanese market for the six month period April to September totaled 83,298 units, 17.3 percent down over last year and marked the second consecutive half-year decline.
Total registered car sales declined 23.3 percent while minicar volume fell 13.8 percent despite a 20 percent increase in sales of the Pajero Mini.
# Production overseas
In Asia, production at 150,256 units was 21.0 percent down over the corresponding period last year. The decrease was due mainly to the end of assembly of MMC models at Proton in Malaysia in July and to slow sales in Taiwan, these factors more than offsetting increases at MMTh (3.4 percent) in Thailand and at KRM (46.1 percent) in Indonesia.
In North America production at 27,814 units was 27.9 percent down year-on-year, as output was brought in line with slow sales. In Europe production at 21,983 units was 31.6 percent down, reflecting volume adjustments at NedCar prior to the introduction of the next generation Colt.
# Export shipments from Japan
Total export shipments from Japan were 6.0 percent up over the same period last year, marking the fifth consecutive half-year increase and reaching the highest level since the company spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003.
Shipments to Europe rose 12.5 percent driven by strong sales in Russia and The Ukraine. Shipments to North America increased 11.3 percent due mainly to strong sales of the Lancer in Canada, while exports to Asia rose 16.7 percent.
September 2008 Fiscal Year 2008
('08/04-'08/9) Calendar Year 2008 ('08/01-'08/09) Volume YoY(%) Volume YoY(%) Volume YoY(%)
Domestic
Production Passenger Cars 77,523 112.8 371,996 106.0 599,660 109.4
Commercial Vehicles 6,623 92.1 38,605 93.9 64,030 95.2
Total 84,146 110.8 410,601 104.8 663,690 107.9
Domestic
Sales * Passenger
Cars Registrations 5,242 65.9 25,936 76.5 50,734 85.5
Minicars 8,842 96.0 35,439 88.6 63,881 86.1
Total 14,084 82.1 61,375 83.0 114,615 85.9
Commercial
Vehicles Registrations 428 79.0 2,415 79.5 3,949 81.0
Minicars 3,677 76.4 19,508 82.2 32,744 84.7
Total 4,105 76.7 21,923 81.9 36,693 84.3
Registrations Total 5,670 66.8 28,351 76.7 54,683 85.2
Minicars Total 12,519 89.3 54,947 86.2 96,625 85.7
Grand Total 18,189 80.8 83,298 82.7 151,308 85.5
Exports Passenger Cars 50,774 91.6 292,333 106.4 473,519 114.3
Commercial Vehicles 966 97.0 6,717 92.4 10,694 98.0
Total 51,740 91.7 299,050 106.0 484,213 113.9
Production Domestic Production 84,146 110.8 410,601 104.8 663,690 107.9
Overseas Production 37,303 77.4 224,215 78.0 353,447 82.8
Total 121,449 97.8 634,816 93.5 1,017,137 97.6
* Includes imports to Japan
- Fumio Nishizaki, Mitsubishi Tokyo-
