From 2012 until recently, Mitsubishi produced cars for the Chinese market in a joint venture with GAC – the plant is located in Hunan province, and in its best years, 140 thousand cars were assembled there. The assembly line stood idle for several months, and now it has become known that Mitsubishi has decided to leave China. The reason is a drop in sales: over the eight months of 2023, the Chinese bought a little more than 11 thousand cars, which is 41.5 percent less than in the same period last year.
Mitsubishi’s lineup in China consists of four crossovers: ASX, Outlander, Pajero and Pajero Sport. In 2022, the Japanese brand launched the hybrid Outlander on the local market, but it never became popular. The company also has an electric car, the Airtrek, but this is not an independent development, but a slightly redesigned Chinese GAC Aion V. According to the Nikkei agency, Mitsubishi will officially announce its departure from China after agreements are reached on the transfer of local assets to its partner GAC.
GAC itself is doing well: sales from January to August exceeded half a million vehicles, which corresponds to an increase of 41.4 percent compared to the result a year ago. The plant in Hunan province will become the full property of the concern, and the production of electric vehicles will be organized there. GAC intends to retain the entire staff of the enterprise.
With the departure from China, Mitsubushi will focus on its key markets – Southeast Asia (ASEAN), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), Africa, the Middle East and South America. There the company will develop its model line, including electric ones: according to the brand development strategy, Mitsubishi has planned 16 new models. At the same time, North America, Mexico, Europe and Mitsubishi’s native Japan are not so important regions for the brand.
Farewell: cars about to retire
