Mitsubishi expects record sales in ’13

MITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) expects record-high sales in 2013 due to high consumer demand for vehicles such as its newly launched Mirage.

MMPC president and CEO Hikosaburo Shibata told reporters that by next year, “we will try to sell 43,000 units.”

He said this is the highest target set by the company so far.

According to Shibata, the firm expects that strong demand for vehicles in 2012 will spill over to 2013 as consumers enjoy growing purchasing power.

Total industry sales are predicted to reach 200,000 units next year from 181,000 units this year, Shibata said.

The Japanese firm last posted record-high sales of 36,500 units in 1996.

MMPC wants to sell up to 36,000 units this year. This would be higher than the 32,000 units sold in 2011, he said.

For the first 11 months of 2012, MMPC’s sales have reached 31,500 units. For the month of November alone, sales reached 3,840 units—the firm’s highest monthly sales.

Of the total November sales, the all-new Mirage subcompact hatchback accounted for about 1,000 units.

Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC vice president for marketing, said the firm is hoping to achieve higher sales next year with the strong demand for the Mirage.

“We are banking heavily on the Mirage. Through that, we were able to establish monthly record in November,” he said.

Apart from the demand for the Mirage, he said the launch of two new models next year would likewise support higher sales.

Shibata said MMPC would be introducing a new passenger car and sports utility vehicle next year.

“We’ll see them in the second half,” he said.

He said upgrades for some Mitsubishi models would also be seen next year. He declined to give more details.

Apart from the Mirage, MMPC is currently selling the L300 van, Adventure, Lancer EX, Strada, Montero Sport, Pajero, ASX and the Fuzion.