Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) is the Thai operation of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. It became the first Thai automobile manufacturer to export vehicles overseas in 1988, and has remained the country's largest exporter every year since.[1]

Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)
TypeSubsidiary
Founded1987 (1987)
HeadquartersPathum Thani, Thailand
Key people
Morikazu Chokki (President & CEO)
ProductsAutomobile manufacturing
Number of employees
c. 4,000 (2004)
ParentMitsubishi Motors (100%)
SubsidiariesMMC Engine Co., Ltd. (MEC)
Websitewww.mitsubishi-motors.co.th
The Akinori Nakanishi-styled Mitsubishi Triton, Thailand's most successful automotive export.

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand is currently the most productive of the parent corporation's four manufacturing facilities outside Japan, with 133,109 vehicles produced in 2006. It exported its one millionth pickup truck in October 2007.[2] In anticipation of a growth in the market for pickup trucks, Mitsubishi is investing 21 billion baht(¥1 billion) to increase local capacity to 200,000 units.[3] In November 2015, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand celebrated production of its four millionth vehicle.[4]

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand owns a subsidiary, MMC Engine, located at Laem Chabang Industrial Estates, Tambon Thung Sukhla, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, which produces auto components.[5]

History

Mitsubishi has had a presence in Thailand since 1961.[6] Mitsubishi began building trucks in Thailand in 1966, by a company called United Development Motor Industry Co (UDMI) (established 1964). In 1965, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) became the majority shareholder (60%) of UDMI.[7] The Galant sedan followed in 1972 and the L200 pickup truck in 1981.[8] MMC acquired 40% of Sittipol Motor Co (SMC), the distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Thailand, in late 1973.[7] In 1987, SMC and UDMI merged to become MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. (MSC) with MMC holding 48%.[7] In 1988, Mitsubishi Mirage was exported to supply Chrysler Canada.[9][7] In 1992, local production at Laem Chabang, Thailand ( Laemchabang #1 Factory) was started.[10][7] In 1996, local production at Laemchabang #2 Factory was started.[7] In August 1997, MMC became the majority owner of MSC.[7] In 2003, MSC changed its name to Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd.[7] In January 2004, Fuso trucks business was split to form Mitsubishi Fuso Truck (Thailand).[7]

In 2001 Mitsubishi increased their stake from 46.2 to 99.9 percent, followed by a name change to "Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd." in November 2003.[8] A Thai-only SUV on a L200 chassis, called the Strada G-Wagon, was built in 2001–2005.

Current models

Imported

Former models

Manufactured locally

Imported

Production and sales

The company surpassed a cumulative five million production units by 2018.[6]

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand exported 332,700 vehicles in 2019, a 3.9% drop. Mitsubishi posted local sales in 2019 of 88,244 units, up 4.4%, overcoming a Thai car market that fell 3.3% to 1,007,552 units sold in 2019.[12]

Year Production Domestic sales
L200 Strada Triton Lancer Grandis Pajero Sport Mirage Attrage Total
1994 figures unavailable 70,197 76,557
1995 71,426 78,151
1996 74,760 87,672
1997 78,413 35,191
1998 65,341 15,840
1999 77,857 19,172
2000 84,813 - 5,401 - - - - 90,214 28,266
2001 78,845 - 5,302 - - - - 84,147 23,665
2002 97,589 - 12,076 - - - - 109,665 32,010
2003 95,680 - 7,381 - - - - 103,511 33,799
2004 120,572 - 6,310 3,306 - - - 130,188 39,564
2005 90,080 43,769 6,725 3,350 - - - 143,924 43,722
2006 26,901 121,687 3,165 1,089 - - - 152,842 26,003
2007 6,257 155,027 2,693 1,865 11 - - 165,853 26,887
2008 - 135,443 2,084 2,084 15,065 - - 156,647 19,231
2009 - 87,008 1,880 1,880 37,179 - - 129,463 23,397
2010 - 135,895 1,741 1,774 55,289 - - 199,760 47,513
2011 - 147,542 3,354 179 67,966 20 - 221,450 73,649
2012 - 185,670 2,320 - 82,712 122,633 - 393,910 141,923
2013 - 143,947 990 - 49,438 97,938 47,006 339,319 85,199
2014 - 159,457 90 - 42,207 100,240 29,850 331,844 58,896
2015 - 129,171 - - 68,361 83,857 53,733 335,122 63,581
2016 - 144,842 - - 59,993 86,189 65,329 356,353 55,717
2017 - 167,051 - - 62,201 71,927 64,033 365,212 73,497
2018 - 194,314 - - 51,411 77,577 60,879 384,181 87,855

(Sources: Facts & Figures 2000, Facts & Figures 2005, Facts & Figures 2008, Facts & Figures 2010, Facts & Figures 2013, Facts & Figures 2018, Facts & Figures 2019, Mitsubishi Motors website)

References
  1. "Mitsubishi Grandis and Strada win Car of the Year Awards at Bangkok International Motor Show" Archived 2009-06-30 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors press release, March 29, 2005
  2. "Mitsubishi Motors sets new record: 1,000,000 pick up trucks exported from Thailand", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 11, 2007
  3. "Mitsubishi Vows to Continue with Expansion in Thailand", Santan Santivimolnat, Bangkok Post, June 4, 2004
  4. "Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Celebrates Major Production Milestone". The Newswheel. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. "Subsidiaries and Affiliates" Archived 2007-06-03 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors website
  6. "Somkid urges investors to make Thailand regional automobile hub". Thai PBS. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  7. "History of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd" (PDF). Mitsubishi Motors. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  8. Mazur, Eligiusz, ed. (2006). World of Cars 2006·2007. Warsaw, Poland: Media Connection Sp. z o.o. p. 272. ISSN 1734-2945.
  9. MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. MMC Sittipol.
  10. Maikaew, Piyachart (Jul 4, 2016). "Mitsubishi upbeat on sales outlook". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  11. "Mitsubishi Motors Started Production of the Mirage Line-off Ceremony for the Mirage held in Thailand". Mitsubishi-motors.com. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  12. Maikaew, Piyachart (11 February 2020). "Mitsubishi's exports down 3.9% in 2019". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
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