Premium move drives up Mitsubishi sales

MITSUBISHI Motors Australia Restricted says the choice to maneuver into the extra premium facet of the quantity phase has resulted in elevated gross sales – and income – for the Japanese model.

Chatting with media gathered for the launch of the all-new Outlander PHEV in Adelaide this week, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Restricted (MMAL) CEO Shaun Westcott mentioned the outlook for the marque is promising, and that a number of fashions inside the vary at the moment are promoting in file volumes Down Below.

“We’re actually enthusiastic about the way forward for Mitsubishi and concerning the path of Mitsubishi, and the way we’re performing in Australia,” mentioned Mr Westcott.

“Our year-to-date gross sales are up 11.5 per cent, regardless of the general market being down 5.2 per cent 12 months to this point. Our market share is 7.8 per cent, which is up 1.2 per cent and we at present rank third in Australia.

“Triton is performing extraordinarily effectively, up 28 per cent 12 months on 12 months with a 13 pick-up gross sales phase – and an all-time gross sales file in March of this 12 months.”

“We’ve once more had very sturdy efficiency from Pajero Sport, particularly from two-wheel drive and GSR variants we lately added to the vary, which has additionally resulted in a really important elevate to 26 per cent 12 months on 12 months and a rating of fourth within the Giant SUV phase.

“The all-new Outlander is up round 43 or 46 per cent 12 months on 12 months over the earlier mannequin, once more, a automotive that has resonated effectively with the market and a really sturdy sign of the intention of Mitsubishi to turn into extra premium inside the quantity phase.”

Mr Westcott says the Outlander SUV vary, and its newly-launched plug-in hybrid siblings, is a transparent indicator of the model’s future path, the styling, construct high quality, gear ranges, driveline and connectivity expertise and top-shelf security techniques of the mannequin a showcase of what’s to return from the model – together with a possible uptick in value.

“Wanting forward… we’re the designated lead model for ASEAN and Oceania areas and, enjoying to our strengths, we’re the PHEV and four-by-four expertise specialists inside the Alliance, and we’ll proceed to play to the strengths of our model,” he added.

“As I discussed earlier, we’re on a journey to reposition ourselves as a extra premium model. We’re not low cost and cheerful, in actual fact, we don’t compete in any one of many low cost segments.

“We’re shifting the model extra upmarket inside the quantity phase, and that will probably be seen not solely within the value of our product, but in addition in our buyer technique, the shopper expertise and the way in which we market our product.”

Echoing his personal sentiment, Mr Westcott reiterated that MMAL has already taken steps to distance itself from its “low cost and cheerful” previous by discontinuing the zero-star ANCAP rated Categorical gentle industrial van and micro phase Mirage.

“The Categorical is anticipated to expire by October and Mirage inventory is already exhausted,” he said.

Mitsubishi will has launched its Outlander PHEV vary this month and can look to supply range-topping variants of its Triton and Pajero Sport vary – together with a Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior rival – in the direction of the top of the 12 months.

Mitsubishi YTD gross sales to August 2022*:

Supply: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.