Mitsubishi CEO: Stop Galant production in U.S., start export production
11/03/2008, 12:43 PM
By Andrew Ganz
Mitsubishi’s CEO, Osamu Masuko, said yesterday that he wants the Japanese automaker to end production of the Galant in Normal, Illinois, and replace that plant’s capacity with vehicles that “can be sold on the global market,” most likely Lancers and Outlanders – two of Mitsubishi’s better sellers and two vehicles that can be exported outside of the U.S.
The Galant’s redesign has been pushed back and back and, as Leftlane recently suggested, Mitsubishi is considering dropping the nameplate entirely and backing out of the ultra-competitive midsize sedan market.
Mitsubishi and the UAW are committed to the Normal facility for at least another four years. The two signed a labor deal to keep the plant running in October.
Masuko told Automotive News that nothing is certain just yet, but that the automaker is strongly considering bringing Lancer and Outlander production to the U.S., which might spell the end for Eclipse and Endeavor production.
Currently, the Normal plant isn’t even producing 100,000 vehicles – the break-even point for the facility. Mitsubishi says the plant could produce up to 240,000 vehicles annually in its current configuration, which leaves a lot of room open for export vehicles.
Masuko also told the journal that he wishes the Triton pickup, which is sold in over 100 countries, was sold in the U.S. The Triton is a modern compact pickup that, in a previous iteration, was sold as the Mighty Max in North America. The automaker declined to give reasons why the Triton won’t be sold in the North American market, but the most obvious speculation suggests that it would not meet federal requirements.
11/03, 12:53 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
What? There was no file photo of an actual Galant?
11/03, 12:54 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
They need to bring some of their diesels over and what about their old 90s electric concepts?
11/03, 1:10 PM
posted by:
Borat
it is shocking that Mitsubishi motors is still in business. I would imagine them packaging tuna by now.
11/03, 1:20 PM
posted by:
TOZO
Good suggestion from the CEO. No one wants a Galant. Not really. And about the pickup, wasn’t the Raider a bad enough of an idea? Mitsubishi should just trim its whole line down to Lancers and a future Lancer (rather than Galant)-based Eclipse. If not, get out!!!!!!!
11/03, 1:38 PM
posted by:
JPLee
i don’t know why most people are saying that Mitsu needs to pull out of the US. They are practically in the same position that Nissan and Mazda were in 10 years ago. Little financial backing (if any at all) and went through a rebuilding phase. Mitsubishi needs to keep the Galant, but they need to offer a manual transmission and better designs. I mean, the current design cue they got from Diamler-Chrysler (that nose) was one of the worst designs for a front end I’ve ever seen. The new Eclipse, it’s too pricey for it’s class. I mean, for a V6 fully loaded Eclipse, I can buy a 350Z or the new Challenger. The Evo X is selling, but $40k car is not easy to buy in today’s economy. The Raider, that was a joke. A Mitsu badged Dakota, which the Dakota wasn’t selling, so why would the Raider..? The Endeavor is a great SUV with it’s re-sale value still around $14-$18k so it’s something they need to keep.
Mitsu needs to go through a re-building phase in the US, the Lancer and Outlander are great vehicles. The Galant and Endeavor aren’t living to there potential. They both have a good amount of power, and gas mileage, but honestly, in the design department, they need some serious help. The Eclipse, is the Eclipse. Best thing for them is to take it away, then bring it back later. The Eclipse has been falling since they took away the AWD turbo model. Not saying to tubro it again, but, an AWD V6 isn’t bad (Endeavor) nor would a Turbo FWD model either (Lancer Ralli-Art). It would sell better. As for a truck, the next generation Triton should be built with US standards so that they can bring it over here. The Mighty Max was an awesome truck (and hard to find) but compact trucks are a good thing right now because it’s still a truck, without it’s heavy gas mileage like a full-size. The Galant Ralliart would sell better with a manual transmission and the company needs to think about it’s origins of how they got big in this country like Nissan and Mazda.
Nissan and Mazda had fallen to the bottom of the car industry, even lower then Hyundai or Daewoo in the mid-late 90’s where Nissan’s Z and Mazda’s RX’s were taken away. Those, are the staple of the cars in the US. When you think of their history, I don’t think Nissan Pathfinder or Mazda 626. The first cars I think of when I think history is the Nissan 240/270Z and the Mazda RX-6 & RX-7’s. They have brought back their origins and history with the 350z and RX-8’s and now since 2001, they have launched successful vehicles like Nissan’s new Altima, Maxima, Pathfinder, Frontier and even a new model in the Titan. Look at how Mazda grew with the 626 replacement in the 6, and the 3 and even decided to add Mazdaspeed models as well which sell even better then the Evo’s.
The Galant should have an AWD model and so should the Eclipse. Mitsu needs to think about bringing back the 3000GT or Starion at a cost effective rate to revamp the company because if Honda releases the next NSX and S3000 (which they will) and Toyota somehow gets the Supra going finally, Mitsu is going to get left behind and an area where they had excelled not just in the US, but in Japan also…
11/03, 1:39 PM
posted by:
writeeddie
Its sad to see even the Korean companies are building better cars than the once thriving car makes that made the first generation Eclipse Turbo AWD ~ a car that ever other teenage boy lusted.
11/03, 1:43 PM
posted by:
JPLee
I also know not everything has to be about sport cars, but the AWD market is where Mitsu made it’s mark with it’s Galant VR-4, Mirage hatch, Eclipse GSX and even the 3000GT. It’s when Mitsu eliminated thw AWD cars that it started to suffer. I mean, the Lancer shared Dodge Caliber atleast gets an AWD model. Now, look at Subaru with it’s AWD line-up and where even Ford has started to try and get into the AWD sedan market with it’s Five-Hundred/Fusion/Taurus cars and it’s Volvo AWD line-up. And don’t forget that Acura lately has been developing there AWD models in the RL and new TL
11/03, 1:46 PM
posted by:
tzu13
The Ideal Mitsu Line-up:
Lancer
Eclipse
Bikes and ATVs.
11/03, 1:56 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
You for got big screens, Tzu. They make some great big screens.
11/03, 1:59 PM
posted by:
A4
kill the endeavor… its terrible
11/03, 2:00 PM
posted by:
A4
and i would actually buy a Raider before i bought a Dakota… the Raider is much prettier, especially when properly equipped
11/03, 4:27 PM
posted by:
tzu13
I was referring to things you can ride/drive (I don’t know what you do with your TVs, but to each his own), but yes, TVs would also be a part of the Ideal Line-upTM.
11/04, 1:53 AM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I guess if you throw a PlayStation or XBox into the mix, a Mitsubishi TV can be virtually driven.
11/04, 12:45 PM
posted by:
JPLee
very true, very true….
but all im saying, is that they need to get back to there roots like most companies are
Chevy = RWD Sports Cars (Camaro)
Chrysler = RWD Sedans
Dodge = RWD Sports Cars
Ford = Sport Sedans
Honda = FWD Sport Cars
Nissan = RWD Z & AWD GTR
Mazda = Rotory
Subaru = AWD Cars
and etc…..