10G Global Galant might come from Normal.
Mitsubishi may boost production of Galant in U.S. for global exports
By James B. Treece
Automotive News / December 07, 2005
TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. could export the next-generation Galant sedan from its Normal, Ill., plant to Europe and Japan.
Production of the next Galant will cease in Japan, making the Illinois factory the global source for the car, according to an article in the daily Nikkan Kogyo newspaper.
The paper said a right-hand drive version for export markets will be added to the factory.
A Mitsubishi spokesman neither confirmed nor denied the report. If true, though, it would be in line with a previously announced change in Mitsubishi's product strategy.
It also would help improve the operation rate at the Normal plant. That factory has been operating on a single shift for more than a year. To boost production, Mitsubishi plans to begin exporting the current Galant from Normal to Russia, the Ukraine and the Middle East from the middle of 2006.
"We haven't decided on the specific plans. We are now conducting an evaluation of our product strategy," said Mitsubishi spokesman Shingo Kimura.
Mitsubishi is in the first year of a three-year restructuring plan that calls for a switch in product planning.
Mitsubishi now makes several models that are specific to the market where they are made and sold. The new plan calls for the company to concentrate on global models that can be sold in multiple markets.
Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko explained the change in a recent interview with Automotive News.
"Up until now, Mitsubishi was making vehicles that were sort of regionally dedicated. They were vehicles that were only meeting the needs of that region. Vehicles produced in the United States were only sold in the United States, and those produced in Australia were only sold in Australia. In terms of profitability and product development, this led to great problems," he said.
Instead, he said, Mitsubishi wants to develop "global strategic cars" that "we could be selling to other parts of the world, but producing in the market with the biggest demand for that vehicle
This is intriguing because I figured the Japanese would be too proud to drive an American built Galant. But these times they are a changin'. Maybe this will make it easier for AWD conversions! :shock:
Re: 10G Global Galant might come from Normal.
Quote:
Production of the next Galant will cease in Japan
I can explain this:
My dad works for the logistic department for Mitsubishi Japan for many years now and he's currently living there until spring 06. He said that MMC currently uses left over stock from the previous Galant (96-00) to create the Viento & VR-G models. Although it's limited to the 2 liter (or 1.8) GDI engine w/ith 2wd / awd standards, it's selling more units compared to the Mitsubishi 380 (9G). To answer some of y'alls hunch, yes up until till 2006, MMC still makes JDM 8Gs. https://www.thegalantcenter.org/styl...ault/laugh.gif
Quote:
Up until now, Mitsubishi was making vehicles that were sort of regionally dedicated. In terms of profitability and product development, this led to great problems," he said.
And how long did it take to figure that out? :evil: