Tuesday, 24th March 2009

PRODUCTION, SALES & EXPORT VOLUMES DOWN FROM 2008
~ Mitsubishi Motors announces production, sales and export figures for February 2009 ~

Tokyo, March 24, 2009 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced global production, as well as domestic sales and export figures for February 2009

Production: total and in Japan
Total global production came in at 45,048 units, a decline of 65.0 percent over February 2008 and the twelfth consecutive monthly decrease since March. Production volume in Japan at 20,138 units was down 76.8 percent as a 79.9 percent decrease in passenger car (15,664 units) and a 49.4 percent decline in commercial vehicle (4,474 units) output saw year-on-year output fall for the fourth consecutive month. The fall in production volume in Japan was, as in the previous three months, due mainly to the impact of the global financial crisis on sales volume in the company's world markets.

Sales in Japan
Vehicle sales in Japan in February totalled 13,623 units, a 33.6 percent decrease year-on-year and the 18th consecutive monthly decline since September 2007. Registered vehicle sales volume at 3,880 units was 50.5 percent down on the same month last year. Minicar sales volume at 9,743 units was 23.2 percent down.

Production overseas
Overseas production volume totalled 24,910 units, 40.3 percent down over February last year and the twelfth consecutive monthly decline. By region, output in North America was 74.6 percent down as production levels were adjusted for slow sales in the United States. In Europe, output was 44.3 percent down.

Export shipments from Japan
Total exports from Japan of 13,250 units were 75.0 percent down on February 2008, marking the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year decreases. Exports to Asia at 1,367 units were 75.5 percent down on February 2008 due mainly to a major drop in shipments of built-up models to China. Exports to Europe at 3,401 units were 81.2 percent down due mainly to a major drop in sales in Russia and The Ukraine. Exports to North America as a whole at 2,859 units were 64.8 percent down, though shipments to Canada and to Mexico were 57 percent and 27 percent up respectively over February last year.

 

February
2009

Fiscal Year 2008
('08/04-'09/2)

Calendar Year 2009
('09/01-'09/2)

Volume

YoY(%)

Volume

YoY(%)

Volume

YoY(%)

Domestic
Production

Passenger Cars

15,664

20.1

567,790

80.7

36,781

25.6

Commercial Vehicles

4,474

50.6

66,600

84.8

8,749

54.7

Total

20,138

23.2

634,390

81.1

45,530

28.5

Domestic
Sales1

Passenger
Cars

Registrations

3,641

49.5

42,926

64.7

6,447

48.0

Minicars

6,815

78.4

65,263

90.0

11,265

77.0

Total

10,456

65.2

108,189

77.9

17,712

63.1

Commercial
Vehicles

Registrations

239

49.0

3,623

69.4

421

47.8

Minicars

2,928

73.2

33,308

78.9

5,153

76.3

Total

3,167

70.6

36,931

77.8

5,574

73.0

Registrations Total

3,880

49.5

46,549

65.1

6,868

48.0

Minicars Total

9,743

76.8

98,571

85.9

16,418

76.8

Grand Total

13,623

66.4

145,120

77.9

23,286

65.2

Exports

Passenger Cars

13,109

25.2

436,541

82.8

25,863

24.0

Commercial Vehicles

141

13.2

9,323

73.9

323

12.7

Total

13,250

25.0

445,864

82.6

26,186

23.7

Production

Domestic Production

20,138

23.2

634,390

81.1

45,530

28.5

Overseas Production

24,910

59.7

383,049

74.9

52,857

62.3

Total

45,048

35.0

1,017,439

78.7

98,387

40.3

ENDS

For further information please contact the Mitsubishi Press Office on 01285 647200

Andy Wertheim, General Manager Press & Public Affairs a.wertheim@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk
Nic Reglar, Press Officer, Product Affairs & Events n.reglar@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk
Jack Bowes, Press Officer, Product Affairs j.bowes@mitsubishi-cars.co.uk

Other Mitsubishi press releases and pictures can be found on www.mitsubishipress.co.uk

1 Includes imports to Japan