Mitsubishi delays car plans

The Lancer’s replacement is on hold; Mitsubishi’s near- and medium-term future is all about SUVs and light commercial vehicless. That’s the clear message from Mitsubishi Motor Corporation President, Osamu Masuko.

Down Under for the Japanese brand’s end of Japanese financial year celebrations and dealer conference, Masuko-san met briefly with Australian autotime media in Adelaide yesterday.

In the meeting he reinforced the company’s ‘New Stage 2016’ mid-term business plan that essentially outlines SUVs and light commercial models as the only new vehicles the brand will launch in the next two to three years.

The plan confirms the launch of an all-new Triton later this year and suggests “2015 and after” global launches for the next-generation Challenger, ASX and Pajero. A Delica people-mover not earmarked for Australia also sits in the post 2015 timeline.

Depending on the individual SUV or LCV model, new-generation petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains are all planned for the new models.

However, although the proffered plan notes the launch of a joint-venture Japanese market Kei car with Nissan, it has no timeline for a replacement for the Lancer small car.

Quizzed on the future of Mitsubishi’s passenger cars, Masuko-san stated the company was still considering options for the next-generation Lancer.

“The total [automotive] demand globally for 2013 fiscal year is approximately 85 million units and that will become 100 million units by 2018. So, obviously, you can say that the automotive industry is a growing industry,” the Mitsubishi boss explained.

“Within that global growth, the great growth that we expect is in the developing markets. And talking about the segment[s], the biggest growth we expect is the SUV. [But] Obviously, C-segment, which is a Lancer here, is a very important segment for us as well,” he stated.

“So, we are studying various scenarios [on] how to develop the new segment of C efficiently. One of the studies we are undertaking is the possibility to explore whether we could share the platform with Nissan and Renault,” Masuko confirmed.

The Mitsubishi boss intimated that unlike future SUVs and light commercials, Mitsubishi passenger car development would rely on collaborative projects. The Nissan tie-up for the Lancer replacement is logical as it builds on the Kei car JV.

Ironically, however, the Lancer replacement plans will not be confirmed until a decision is made on a larger D-segment vehicle. Globally and Down Under, the D segment is considerably smaller in total unit numbers than the C-car marketplace.

In fact, Mitsubishi’s Australian chief, Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, last month said the Lancer would remain the brand’s largest model here for the foreseeable future.

“I would want to come to the decision [on Lancer replacement] without spending too much [more] time,” Masuko-san offered.

“[However] Before we come to a decision about the C-segment, between Nissan and Renault, I think we have to make the decision fast about D-segment… I do not anticipate that will be long away.

“Once the D-segment issue is resolved, then it will be forward for the C-segment,” the Mitsubishi boss said.

Masuko-san stated Mitsubishi remained committed to building passenger cars and dismissed the suggestion the brand was moving towards an SUV line-up like Land Rover or Jeep.

“Our direction to focus on SUV and LCV remains important. [But] The current existing models, Mirage or Lancer, we do not consider it as a possibility to drop them.

“[But] It is difficult to do everything by ourselves. We have to really be selective and bring the focus on a certain area,” Masuko stated.