Amsterdam, July 16th, 2007
MITSUBISHI MOTORS EUROPE
First Half CY 2007 Sales Results: + 8 % increase
Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) continues to build up on its sales momentum with an increase of 8% over the first six months of CY 2007 compared to the same period of CY 2006 (118,389 sales vs. 109,488 in CY2006, excluding Russia)*.
It should be noted that this good result was achieved in spite of the separation of Russia from Mitsubishi Motors Europe’s business territory since April 1st, 2007. Previously the Number One market for MME and the source of much commercial growth, this promising country now forms a stand-alone business region reporting directly to Japan.
Now able to focus on Western and Central Europe, Mitsubishi Motors Europe continues to capitalize on the on-going development of the Ukrainian market (+ 100% vs. H1 CY 2006 with 10,964 sales), of Central Europe (esp. Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia or the Balkans), the Baltic states and Israel.
Combined with a notable come-back in France (+ 28%, boosted by the successful introduction of Outlander and Pajero), continued growth in Belgium (+ 13%), Ireland (+ 11%), Switzerland (+ 8%) or Austria (+ 32%) and stable results in Italy and Spain (resp. # 4 and 5), these efforts have helped offsetting the decrease of Germany (- 8%) affected by a depressed local market environment (January-June total market: – 9.2%) and the United Kingdom (-10%) where a combination of supply constraints for the new models and tougher than anticipated competition have eroded Mitsubishi’s positions.
Overall, MME’s good performance was undoubtedly supported by the successful local introductions of the next generation of Outlander and Pajero.
Launched in waves, market after market since autumn 2006 (Pajero) and early 2007 (Outlander), these two models have added to the strong sales already gained by the L200 Sport Utility Truck introduced in early 2006. New L200 is now Mitsubishi Motors’ second best seller in Europe, behind Colt.
Supporting MME’s strategy of profit & image vs. volume, all these SUVs have met their targets, re-acquainted many European customers to Mitsubishi’s 4-wheel drive reputation and generated higher profitability due to a richer mix (for Pajero, 54% of the volume is represented by the highest “Intense+” and “Instyle” grades, whilst for Outlander this share is of 70%).
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Note: “Pajero” is “Montero” in Spain and “Shogun” in the UK.
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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
- MME First Half CY 2007 Sales Results* -
| MARKETS | 2007 | 2006 | Variation |
| 1 – Germany | 18,102 | 19,720 | - 8 % |
| 2 – The United Kingdom | 17,217 | 19,187 | - 10 % |
| 3 – The Ukraine | 10,964 | 5,472 | + 100 % |
| 4 – Italy | 10,698 | 10,700 | 0 % |
| 5 – Spain | 8,813 | 8,958 | - 2 % |
| 6 – The Netherlands | 5,545 | 5,298 | + 5 % |
| 7 – France | 4,321 | 3,377 | + 28% |
| 8 – Portugal | 3,984 | 2,941 | + 35% |
| 9 – Israel | 3,737 | 3,092 | + 21% |
| 10 – Greece | 3,664 | 3,908 | - 6% |
* Some minor discrepancies might appear between MME figures (sales) and officially published figures on various markets (registrations). Beyond the possible difference between sales and registrations, it also comes from grey imports, pickup trucks and other light commercial vehicles converted from passenger cars, sales from existing stock in countries, etc,…
TOTAL EUROPE
| Overall market (ACEA)* | 8,510,288 | 8,525,086 | - 0.2 % |
| Mitsubishi Motors (ACEA)* | 75,769 | 75,048 | + 1 % |
| Mitsubishi Motors (MME)** | 118,389 | 109,488 | + 8 % |
* ACEA estimated figures / 25 EU countries (incl. Bulgaria and Romania, excl. Malta and Cyprus) + EFTA countries / do not include pickups like L200.
** MME figures / 35 countries / includes L200
| MODELS | 2007 | 2006 | |
| 1 – Colt | 37,595 | 41,499 | - 9.4 % |
| 2 – New L200 | 20,650 | 12,110 | + 71 % |
| 3 – New Outlander | 16,006 | (launched early 2007) | |
| 4 – Lancer | 14,582 | 14,956 | - 2.5 % |
| 5 – New Pajero | 11,990 | (launched fall 2006) | |