Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for both for March 2008 and the 2007 fiscal year.March 2008

• Production: total and in Japan
  Total global production came in at 137,910 units, a decline of 1.9 percent over March Last year and marking the first monthly decrease since February last year. Production volume in Japan at 93,558 units was up 8.5 percent, the 18th consecutive month of year-on-year growth and marking a new record for March since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. This growth was driven by a 32.4 percent increase in output (31,345 units) of the new Lancer for the Russian, North American, and Middle East and African markets and by a 19.5 percent increase in output (18,647 units) for export shipments of the new Outlander which continues to sell briskly in European and Chinese markets.
• Sales in Japan
  Vehicle sales in Japan in March totaled 32,317 units, a 16.0 percent decrease year-on-year. Passenger car (registrations and mini-car) sales of 25,182 units and commercial vehicle sales of 7,135 units were 17.1 percent and 11.6 percent down respectively on the same month last year. Total registered vehicle sales were 13.8 percent down year-on-year despite strong showings by the Lancer Evolution X, and the Galant Fortis, new additions to the lineup since August last year. Total mini-car sales volume was 17.2 percent down despite an 17.6 percent increase in Pajero Mini sales.
• Production overseas
  Overseas production volume totaled 44,352 units, 18.4 percent down over March last year.
• Export shipments from Japan
  Total exports from Japan of 74,787 units were 25.0 percent up on March 2007, marking the 17th consecutive month of year-on-year increases and setting a new record for March since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. Exports to Asia showed a healthy 14.6 percent rise over the same period last year thanks mainly to firm sales of the new Outlander in China. Exports to Europe of 37,464 units were a very strong 77.6 percent up on March 2007 and a record for the month since the 2003 spin off of the company’s truck and bus operations. This surge was driven mainly by growth in Russia, Ukraina and Central European markets.

2007 Fiscal Year (April ‘07 - March ‘08)

• Production: total and in Japan
  Total global production in fiscal 2007 came in at 1,431,216 units, an increase of 8.8 percent over fiscal 2006 and the first rise in volume in two years. Production volume in Japan at 875,698 units was up 12.9 percent, the third consecutive year of growth since fiscal 2005 and marking a new record for the fiscal year since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. This growth was driven mainly by a 107.7 percent increase in output (170,084 units) of the new Outlander for export to European and Chinese markets and by a 31.2 percent rise in output of the new Lancer destined for the Russian, North American, and Middle East and African markets.
• Sales in Japan
  Vehicle sales in Japan in fiscal 2007 totaled 218,632 units, 11.3 percent down over fiscal 2006. Passenger car (registrations and mini-car) sales of 164,044 units and commercial vehicle sales of 54,588 units were 8.7 percent and 18.2 percent down respectively on last year. Total registered vehicle sales at 83,551 units were 10.1 percent up, due primarily to the new Galant Fortis and Lancer Evolution X introduced during fiscal 2007 as well as to firm sales of the Delica D:5 launched in fiscal 2006. Total mini-car sales were 20.8 percent down for the year.
• Production overseas
  Overseas production volume in fiscal 2007 totaled 555,518 units, an increase of 2.8 percent over last year and the first yearly increase since fiscal 2002. This was attributable mainly to a 10.2 percent production increase to 358,154 units in Asia reflecting the rise in export shipments of the L200 pickup truck from Thailand, the boost in production at Proton and KRM (P.T. Mitsubishi Krama Yudha Motors & Manufacturing) accompanying the market recovery in Malaysia and Indonesia respectively and higher production at China Motor Corp. in Taiwan.
• Export shipments from Japan
  Total exports from Japan in fiscal 2007 of 614,444 units were 38.5 percent up on the previous year, the third consecutive year of growth and a new fiscal year record since Mitsubishi Motors spun off its truck and bus operations in 2003. Exports shipments of 42,980 units to Asia showed a strong 36.6 percent rise over last year helped by the introduction of the new Outlander in China. Export shipments to Europe of 257,221 units were a very strong 74.7 percent up on fiscal 2006. This rise was driven mainly by growth in Russia, Ukraina and Central European markets. Exports to North America at 59,920 units were 14.4 percent down, attributable to market conditions in the second half of the fiscal year.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

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