Mitsubishi projects 23% sales jump in 2013

After six straight years of sales growth since 2006, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is projecting a 23-percent increase in sales from 34,915 units in 2012 to 43,000 in 2013.

Despite the flooding in Thailand in 2011 that slowed down the production of some of its models, including the Mirage, the Montero and the Strada, the company expects all three models will sell well this year.

“Our challenge for this year is to sustain the growth trend and keep Mitsubishi a strong and trusted brand in the Philippines,” said Mitsubishi Motors president and CEO Hikosaburo Shibata.

Mitsubishi's overall sales for 2012 constituted 22 percent of the total sales for the year recorded by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) of 156,649 vehicles.

MMPC's sales are second only to those of Toyota Motor Philippines, which has a commanding 42-percent market share.

Sales in MMPC's passenger car category rose 93 percent year-on-year to 3,214 units sold. Mitsubishi trucks (36 percent) and buses (21 percent) also registered robust growth in 2012.  — BM, GMA News