Mitsubishi sees record high sales this year

MANILA, Philippines - Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is optimistic of achieving record high sales this year given strong sales performance in the first five months of the year.

MMPC said its sales performance is on the same growth trend as that of the industry.

“MMPC sales performance is also in the same growth trend with the industry, expanding 25.6 percent compared to the same period last year and is also likely to surpass the highest record established in 1996 which was at 36,533 units,” the auto maker said.

Combined sales of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Trucks Manufacturers Association Inc. reached 72,988 units as of end-May, 23.3 percent higher than the previous year’s 59,174 units.  

The company sold 17,737 units during the five-month period, well above the 14,126 units sold in the same period last year.

The firm likewise recorded its best monthly sales performance in May, selling 4,063 units or 35.2 percent higher than May last year’s  3,005 units.  

Last year, MMPC sold a total of 34,915 vehicles.

Given the upbeat trend and bright economic outlook in the coming years, MMPC president and chief executive officer, Hikosaburo Shibata is urging the local auto industry to take advantage of the positive development in motorization brought about by the very encouraging consumer confidence.

“The rapid growth of the Philippine auto industry is inevitable and we hope that the Department of Trade and Industry will push for the roadmap for the Philippine auto industry which will enable us to further strengthen local vehicle assembly,” he said.

Shibata said Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) intends to strengthen MMPC’s role to further increase sales and production volume in the Southeast Asian region. 

MMC president Osamu Masuko said  during his visit here in February, the firm intends to expand MMPC’s production output to more than 50,000 units by 2015 and further double it by 2020.

The expansion, MMPC said, can only materialize if it can produce new models for key segments which can be made competitive for the local market. 

The firm said the new auto policy by the   government should provide enough merits to revive both vehicle and local parts manufacturing and make it competitive in the region.

“We are eagerly awaiting for this new policy to be able to start feasibility on a new model production strategy with MMC,” Shibata said.