Amsterdam, July 14th, 2006

 

 

 

 

MITSUBISHI MOTORS EUROPE SALES RESULTS FOR FIRST 6 MONTHS CY 2006

 

 

- Sustained growth -

 

 

 

143,544 sales vs. 137,090 in first half CY2005 (+ 4.7%)

 

 

Mitsubishi Motors Europe’s sales results for the first half of CY 2006 show sustained growth, with sales totalling 143,544, an increase of almost 5% over the same period last year.

 

A result of product renewal and ever-closer partnership with both owned and independent distributors, MME’s sales results for the first six months of the year put it firmly on track to continue making a strong contribution to MMC’s ahead-of-target business plan.

 

Product highlights:

·         The launch of two new products aimed at image-driven segments in the European market set the tone:

o        New L200 sport utility truck – 12,110 units have been sold already, even before full availability across all markets (wholesale orders are 10,000 units ahead of target), with a backlog of 2,800 orders and an even more profitable model mix than the previous generation L200

o        Launched in April, Colt CZC completes the Colt family and provides Mitsubishi with a competitor in the trendy B-segment coupé-cabriolet market. As a first indication of sales potential, all 5,000 units allocated to Germany – its number 1 market – have already been sold to the dealer network

·         Robust sales of existing cornerstone models:

o        Colt, MME’s biggest selling model family, increased its foothold in the fiercely-contested B-segment, posting sales of 42,550 (+ 13%)

o        Lancer, with 37,307 sold (+ 31%) continued to provide MME with much of Russia’s volume but also performed well above expectations in many other markets (43% above target overall)

 

In terms of market:

·         Continued growth in Russia and the Ukraine:

o        Russia, now firmly established as MME’s #1 market (followed by Germany and the UK), saw sales rise by 38%  (34,056 Jan-Jun ’06 vs. 24,726 Jan-Jun ’05)

o        Ukraine saw impressive growth, with sales up from 3,090 to 5,472 (+ 77%), making the market MME’s 6th largest and consolidating Mitsubishi’s position as #1 brand in the Ukraine

·         Excellent performance from diverse European markets, such as:

o        Italy (MME market #4, up 23%)

o        Spain (#5, up 5%)

o        Turkey (+ 23%), Norway (+ 11%) and Hungary (+ 82%)

·         Sales in Germany were 16% lower than in the same period last year; this reduction was caused by the running-out of Space Star, Pajero* Classic and Pajero* Pinin, together with the changeover to new L200

·         In the UK, sales were down by 11% compared to January-June 2005, with the causes of this reduction the same as in Germany (new L200 not yet in full supply and production of several models ending). Furthermore, the UK passenger car market overall has seen a drop of over 4% (1st 6 months 2006 vs. 1st 6 months 2005)

 

* Shogun in the UK / Montero in Spain

 

In the second half of 2006, MME will aim to consolidate its consistent sales performance, not only drawing on its firmly-established product and distributor strengths but also with a most important new model launch later in the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact:                        Daniel Nacass / General Manager – Public Relations, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V.

                                    + 31 6 10 92 38 42 or d.nacass@mitsubishi-motors-euro.com

 

 

Max Tuttle / Information Coordinator – Public Relations, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V.

                                    + 31 6 53 16 61 85 or m.tuttle@mitsubishi-motors-euro.com

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL EUROPE

 

-                      Overall market (ACEA)* 

8,323,033

8,219,279

+ 1.3%

-                      Mitsubishi Motors (ACEA)*

70,112

73,642 

- 4.8%

-                      Mitsubishi Motors (MME)**

143,544

137,090

+ 4.7%

           

* ACEA estimated figures / 23 EU countries + 3 EFTA countries / do not include pickups like L200.

** MME figures / 36 countries / includes L200

 

 

 

MME TOP 10 COUNTRIES*

 

                                                                                   

 

Sales  

% change

1 – Russia:

34,056 sales

+ 37.7%

2 – Germany:

19,720 sales

- 15.6%

3 – UK:

19,187 sales

- 11.3%

4 – Italy:

10,700 sales

+ 23.1%

5 – Spain:

8,958 sales

+ 4.7%

6 – Ukraine:

5,472 sales

+ 77.1%

7 - Netherlands:

5,300 sales

+ 1.9%

8 - Greece:

3,908 sales

+ 40.6%

9 - France:

3,377 sales

- 44.8%

10 - Turkey:

3,107 sales

+ 23.4%

           

 

* MME figures / includes L200

 

 

 

 

Jan-June         

Jan-June

 

MODELS          - top 5

2006    

2005

 

1 – Colt (3- & 5-door)

42,550

37,615

+ 13.1%

2 – Lancer

37,307

28,395

+ 31.4%

3 – L200 (old & new)

23,127

19,186

+ 20.5%

4 – Pajero* (exc. Classic)

11,142

13,031

- 14.5%

5 – Outlander

8,284

8,039

+ 3.0%

 

* Shogun in the UK / Montero in Spain