Mitsubishi to launch five new models including two SUVs by 2016

Mitsubishi may have been off the radar in terms of new cars recently, with no new offerings since the Pajero Sport SUV, but that is soon to change, starting with the launch of the automatic transmission version of the Pajero Sport by October this year. In an interview with our sister publication, Autocar Professional, Mitsubishi’s executive officer and corporate general manager Asia and ASEAN office Ken Horinouchi revealed that a company is working on a new business strategy that will see Mitubishi dealers in India selling ‘around five models’ by 2016. They currently sell only one model, the Pajero Sport. The cars will, at least initially, be imported from ASEAN markets, although assembly at the HM’s Chennai facility is likely at a later stage. “We are aiming to import some cars from ASEAN countries to India,” says Horinouchi.

 

What could follow the Mirage, is its sedan version, the Mitsubishi Attrage. This car uses the same powertrain as the hatchback, and although it’s quite compact, the length of the ASEAN model is just a shade over 4.2 metres long. This means that it doesn’t qualify for India’s small car tax benefits, and so it will be interesting to see if Mitsubishi finds a way to shave off the excess 245mm.

 

Despite this, Mitsubishi acknowledges that its SUVs are what it is best known for, and so they will feature prominently in this new model strategy. “Market-wise, emerging markets, including India, are our first priority; Product-wise, we are going to put more SUVs in such markets,” says Horinouchi.

 

The company will bring two new SUVs from its existing portfolio to India by 2016, and a big contender here is the new-generation Mitsubishi Outlander. However, a big hurdle for the company is the import duty, because while dealers are demanding a diesel version of the Outlander SUV, because it would have to be brought in as a CBU, the cost is proving to be too high. Mitsubishi says it is also studying the compact SUV segment in India.