Workers drive awareness at Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi's 380 was launched with the face of the company -- then CEO Tom Phillips -- at the pointy end. Phillips headed the ad campaign that paved the way for the front-wheel drive sedan.

Now, the company is calling on its own 'talent' again to help enliven the to-date lacklustre sales performance of the make-or-break car. And, it's not new chief Rob McEniry that's in front of the public but rather production line workers from the company's Tonsley Park (SA) plant.

According to Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (MMAL), the initiative was born on the shop floor. Dubbing its workforce 'passionate,' the company says workers suggested that they would prefer to be out on the streets promoting the 380 to hometown Adelaide residents than performing plant maintenance during the maker's much-publicised shutdown.

MMAL has called for volunteers from its production workforce from which around 40-50 will be selected to visit shopping centres and other high traffic areas in specially signwritten 380s. Here they will be handing out sales brochures and answering questions on the car.

The exercise is one of three that Mitsubishi will trial to increase awareness of the 380. If the campaign provces successful it may be expanded to other states.

Meantime internationally Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC) has announced a profit in its (Japanese financial year) third quarter results. The operating profit of Yen 1.6 billion for the three months to December 2005, is first operating profit since June 30, 2004.

The company is targeting a return to profit in its new financial year commencing April '06.

A focus on the reduction of costs, and the release of new products such as the new Outlander SUV and i  minicar in Japan have contributed to the profit, says MMC.

The new model Outlander (due Down Under in early 2007) was the top-selling SUV in the maker's domestic market in November and December.