Mitsubishi is set to release a “mid-term” global business plan in the coming weeks, and the company says it will use that opportunity to resolve the lingering questions about its Normal, Illinois plant. Automotive News [sub] reports that four midsize (PS) platform vehicles currently built their will give way to a “new family of vehicles” based on the firm’s compact (GS) platform that currently underpins the Lancer, Outlander and Outlander Sport. The only problem: Mitsu’s midsizers will have to struggle along until April 2013, by which time the model changeover will be complete. Mitsubishi Motors North America has dismissed the report as “speculation,” but frankly, wouldn’t you be more surprised to see a new “family” of compact Mitsus in less than two years? Meanwhile, breakeven at the 240k unit capacity Normal plant has already been lowered to 70k units, but only about 27k vehicles were built there last year. With less than ten percent of Mitsubishi’s global sales volume coming from the US, maybe it would be better if Mitsu simply called it a game… but instead the firm is “planning” to quadruple sales volume. And hey, why not?
Mitsu used to be interesting (Orginal Eclipse, well and Eagle Talon/Plymouth Lazer and the quirky Galant GTZs that were AWD) but now, what’s their purpose for existing?
At this point, it’s simply to say that they’re still in the US, marking time until Mitsu JDM can pony up decent product for US sale.
Kinda like Chrysler for the past few years, prior to the 2011 refreshes. Tho one hopes Mitsu would have all-new product versus merely doing what should have been done earlier to bring product up to base level.
27,000 units built last year?
Do they run the line one week per month?
Poor Mitsubishi? They shot themselves in the foot a while back and never seemed to recover.It beats me how they have been willing to soldier on these past few years. The Auto division has got to be way in the red, maybe they hired GM’s old bookeepers? Seriously , their line up is weak ,and they don’t compete in any catagory. Yet , the Endeavor still looks competitive and I can attest that it’s a good vehicle overall. A 8 speed trans would be nice as would a power lift gate and maybe some tweaks to the engine, and it’s well past a restyle. The rest of the Mitsubishi line up is equally weak IMO The outlander seems to be there latest hope , but it’s not nearly enough. The Eclipse looks ugly and cheap as does the Galant.If they can’t compete , and they certainly are not competing today , what’s the point? Mitsubishi needs to pour in a few billion dollars , or fold up their tent.
It’s Isuzu all over again – a painful, slow exit. Please end it soon, Mitsubishi.
+ 1 on everything said. These are the only vehivles in the rental fleet with no Aux connection. Not even an option. I do see the Isuzu pattern and I don’t get it. Build the L200 pickup truck here. Bring that small minivan. Place yourselves better in the market. Or just give up. The Outlander sould sell more and the EVO is not a much more then a Halo car. Very sad to see them fail.
Never heard of them.
Agreed, what’s the point of existing in the market as they currently is? Hardly sold any cars, no new products, hardly any news, not really competing in the marketplace. Are they waiting for better times ahead, either in the US car market or in company health? All they promise is “some new cars” based on the Lancer platform, which has already spawn several cars, and is getting old already anyway. That’s the things Mitsu dealers and potential buyer have to look forward to?
And people says bad things about Chrysler… This seem to be far worse. Studebaker (in their dying days) seem like a more apt comparison!
I actually used to live in Normal, IL and even toured the plant one time. Mitsu is big in town mostly because of the employees there get a good discount on buying them. But, they used to have a good looking line-up. I even bought a new 1994 Galant sport when I lived there and it was a stick-shift, loaded model and was a blast to drive. The biggest issue I had with the car was brake wear and warping of the brake rotors, which had to be fixed multiple times. I always liked the Eclipse, but it wasn’t practical enough for me. I look at their line-up now and think it is so boring and downright ugly, with the Outlander sport and Lancer versions the only exceptions. I can’t understand why anyone would buy the current Galant (regardless of price) as this has to be the ugliest mid-size car in production. The Endeavor SUV is also butt-ugly with those square headlights. The Eclipse still looks pretty good, but it’s gotten too big and lost it’s sporty nature. At one time, I thought this was a sporty car manufacturer (like Mazda is now), but they really have lost their way.
Gotta wonder how the dealers stay in business only selling a few cars a month.
I’ve said it before: “Mitsubishi” translates into English as “I couldn’t get bought on the Honda.” While Mitsu once offered some very compelling products, for the past 10 years it has served as nothing more than a refuge for the credit-challenged.
Not a great rep to (re)build a brand image with. Let it die.
I didn’t realize they made anything other than the Lancer evolution, you mean they still make the Eclipse, and what is a galant? Even the EVO is hurting these days. It’s ok Mitsubishi take your subpar products elsewhere.
Turn the ignition on a 2011 Galant…it makes the same uninspiring, tinny crank-over noise as an ’03, a ’97, etc.
Irrelevant, meaningless brand with zero desirablity. Their only ‘wanted’ vehicle is the Evo and 98% of the fanbois will never afford it.
The Galant was out-classed even when it was brand new in 2004 and offered V6, leather, high-end audio…..so how do you think it stacks up seven freakin’ years later??? The only powertrain offered is the ‘global’ 2.4L 4-cylinder (160hp) and 4-speed automatic….
Given a choice between the Galant and a Chrysler Sebring, I’d have to think about it…and probably find something sharp to impale myself on before I had to get behind the wheel of either!!!
With great cars like the Mazda6 and Suzuki Kizashi struggling to find customers, this is the last thing anyone needs! I wonder how many Galants sold in 2010 and how many were to retail customers?
The Outlander V6 is the only tolerable vehicle in the whole pathetic lineup…and it’s hardly the best in its particular class, just doesn’t suck as bad as everything else does….
I would much rather see Suzuki survive and Mitsubishi pull out of the U.S. Then the only place we’d see these crap-mobiles is if we ventured into trailer parks, government-assisted housing developments or Buy-Here-Pay-Here used car lots (weekly payments, naturally)!