Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)
 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (October 2016) |
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Native name | บริษัท มิตซูบิชิ มอเตอร์ส (ประเทศไทย) |
|---|---|
| Formerly | MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd.[1] |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | FYI Center, Thailand |
Key people | Inaba Ryoichi (President & CEO) |
| Products | Automobile manufacturing |
Number of employees | c. 4,000 (2004) |
| Parent | Mitsubishi Motors (100%) |
| Subsidiaries | MMTh Engine Co., Ltd. (MEC) |
| Website | www |
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.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4] In November 2015, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand celebrated production of its four millionth vehicle.[5]
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand owns a subsidiary, MMTh Engine, located at Laem Chabang Industrial Estates, Tambon Thung Sukhla, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, which produces auto components.[6]
History[edit]
Mitsubishi has had a presence in Thailand since 1961.[7] Mitsubishi began building trucks in Thailand in 1966, under a company called United Development Motor Industry Co (UDMI) (established 1964). In 1965, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) became the majority shareholder (60%) of UDMI.[8] The Galant sedan followed in 1972 and the L200 pickup truck in 1981.[9] MMC acquired 40% of Sittipol Motor Co (SMC), the distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Thailand, in late 1973.[8] In 1987, SMC and UDMI merged to become MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. (MSC) with MMC holding 48%.[8] In 1988, Mitsubishi Mirage was exported to supply Chrysler Canada.[10][8] In 1992, local production at the No. 1 factory in Laem Chabang started.[11][8] In 1996, local production at the Laem Chabang No. 2 Factory was started.[8] In August 1997, MMC became the majority owner of MSC.[8] In 2003, MSC changed its name to Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd.[8] In January 2004, the Fuso truck business was split to form Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks (Thailand).[8]
In 2001 Mitsubishi increased their stake from 46.2 to 99.9 percent,[citation needed] followed by a name change to "Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd." in November 2003.[9]
Current models[edit]
- Mitsubishi Triton (2005–present)
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (2008–present)
- Mitsubishi Mirage (2012–present)[12]
- Mitsubishi Attrage (2013–present)
- Mitsubishi Xpander (2018–present)
- Mitsubishi Xpander Cross (2020–present)
Former models[edit]
Manufactured locally[edit]
- Mitsubishi Space Wagon (2003–2011)
- Mitsubishi Lancer (2000–2014)
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2020–2024)
- Dodge Attitude (2013–2024, export only)
- Fiat Fullback/Ram 1200 (2016–2019, export only)
- Mitsubishi Strada G-Wagon (2001–2005)
- Nissan Navara (D40) (2012–2014)[13]
Imported[edit]
- Mitsubishi Delica D:5 / Delica Space Wagon (2015–2016; Japan)
- Mitsubishi Outlander (2003–2005; Japan)
- Mitsubishi Pajero (1991–2006; Japan)
Production and sales[edit]
The company surpassed a cumulative five million production units by 2018.[7]
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.[14]
| 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[edit]
- ^ "Mitsubishi Motors Facts & Figures 2000" (PDF) (Report).
- ^ "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
- ^ "Mitsubishi Motors sets new record: 1,000,000 pick up trucks exported from Thailand", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 11, 2007
- ^ "Mitsubishi Vows to Continue with Expansion in Thailand", Santan Santivimolnat, Bangkok Post, June 4, 2004
- ^ "Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Celebrates Major Production Milestone". The Newswheel. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "Subsidiaries and Affiliates" Archived 2007-06-03 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors website
- ^ a b "Somkid urges investors to make Thailand regional automobile hub". Thai PBS. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd" (PDF). Mitsubishi Motors. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ a b Mazur, Eligiusz, ed. (2006). World of Cars 2006·2007. Warsaw, Poland: Media Connection Sp. z o.o. p. 272. ISSN 1734-2945.
- ^ MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. MMC Sittipol.
- ^ Maikaew, Piyachart (Jul 4, 2016). "Mitsubishi upbeat on sales outlook". The Bangkok Post. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Nissan Focus Returns to Navara Pickup With New Thai Plant". WardsAuto. 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Maikaew, Piyachart (11 February 2020). "Mitsubishi's exports down 3.9% in 2019". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 February 2020.