Report: Mitsubishi looking to claw back to 100,000 sales in U.S. in three years

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Report: Mitsubishi looking to claw back to 100,000 sales in U.S. in three years

When the healthy catches a cold, the sickly contract the flu. Over the past few years, Mitsubishi has been suffering from a degenerative case of bronchial pneumonia, with a side of strep and a nasty rash. In other, less contagious words, Mitsubishi has been faring very poorly during the industry's worst downturn in decades, and it's tough to say if the struggling Japanese automaker will ever leave the intensive care unit.
But to listen to John Koenig, executive vice president of Mitsubishi North America, that will all change over the next few years. Koenig has told Wards Automotive that he sees Mitsubishi hitting 100,000 sales in the U.S. within three years. Mitsubishi only sold 53,986 vehicles in 2009, down 44.5 percent compared to a still depressing 2008, and that's only one sixth of the Japanese automaker's 345,111 U.S. sales in 2002. Koenig says he's had to reassure dealers that Mitsubishi isn't leaving the North American market, adding "that's probably their biggest fear, because they're reading about it in various journals."
To get out of its sales rut, Mitsubishi plans to bolster sales with the help of the Outlander, a vehicle that we found to be pretty entertaining and capable. Koenig also points to the Lancer as another vehicle that could help turn sales around.
Will Mitsubishi return to sales of 100,000 units a year in the States? It's difficult to say, really, but given the automaker's performance over the past few years, we're not all that optimistic. The good news though is that most sales problems can easily be cured with good products, and if the Outlander is as good as we think it is we're thinking, Mitsubishi has a shot at staying relevant - though they had better be readying a few new cannons in their arsenal.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander GT
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[Cali]

im glad i got an 08 outlander cause that new front end is fugly.

[remarque]

Well see, cause the mitsubishi dealership in Greensboro has turned into Subby/Jaguar dealership

[RedGalant2k1]

im glad i got an 08 outlander cause that new front end is fugly.

Its actually not THAT bad. I saw one on the road a week ago already. It was that darker brown color, looked really nice. And I've seen some at local dealers, they do look nice in person than in pictures. Though I'd generally agree, I like my 09 Outlander better too.

[fatal1]

my 06 as well

[johnygezony]

I sure hope so, Gezon Mitsubishi !

[krow]

Our Mitsu dealership in Baton Rouge went out of business for the second time in 3 years...now we have one in tandem with a Saturn dealership.

[Bloody Arro]

I think they should have kept the new lancer front only on the lancers..

Looks out of place on the SUV

[RedGalant2k1]

I think they should have kept the new lancer front only on the lancers..

Looks out of place on the SUV

Its actually really nice with blacked out headlights (like on the SE Model, which happens to be sleeping in my garage as we speak).

I did my part, I purchased a 2010 Outy SE last thursday, how about everyone else?/

[99 galant]

It is much better looking than some of the other mini suv's out there

Most, if not all of my local mitsu's are gone.

[infliction]

Our Mitsu dealership in Baton Rouge went out of business for the second time in 3 years...now we have one in tandem with a Saturn dealership.

hope that survives on its own. saturn dealers are already gone up here.

and i do like the new ourlanders having seen them in person. as for my part.. well.. 09 galant. thats all i wanna be paying for right now ;)

[skyhigh90210]

I wouldn't mind owning a Lancer Sportback ralliart sometime in the future.

[Galant306m]

I wouldn't mind owning a Lancer Sportback ralliart sometime in the future.

That sport back is so god damn ugly. I drove one a couple weeks ago, when i got done with it, it smelt like cluch, i put a hard 13 miles on that car haha. Quick but ugly, just get the lance ralliart

[99 galant]

ew those sport backs are fugly. I'm tired of the new "tuner" yet "family wagon" look with the new cars.

[johnygezony]

I like the sport backs !

[Galant306m]

you are one in few even the salesmen didnt like it.

[Bloody Arro]

I saw one recently and I likes it because it was different in a good way, but I believe that they should keep the new Lancers how they (the new ones) were made at first.

[RedGalant2k1]

you are one in few even the salesmen didnt like it.

I like the Sportback also, nice car, get the performance of the Lancer Ralliart (I'd only buy the RA Trim), and more cargo room.

[infliction]

yeah i like the sportbacks too. idk if i like them enough to buy one, but i still like them.
the ralliart is a nice sleeper for the guy who's wife wanted him to get a "safe family car"

[DFX]

i like the sportback. not sure how i would feel about the view from the rear view mirror though.