Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| Headquarters | 88 Moo 11 Phahonyothin Road, Tambon Klong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand |
Key people | Michiro Imai (President) |
| Products | Automobile manufacturing |
Number of employees | c. 4,000 (2004) |
| Parent | Mitsubishi Motors (99.9%) |
| Subsidiaries | MMC Engine Co., Ltd. (MEC) |
| Website | Mitsubishi-Motors.co.th |
Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MMTh) 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]
MMTh is currently the most productive of Mitsubishi'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, MMTh celebrated production of its four millionth vehicle.[4]
History
Mitsubishi began building trucks in Thailand in 1966, by a company called UDMI (established 1964). The Galant sedan followed in 1972 and the L200 pickup truck in 1981.[5] Subsequent to commencing exports of the L200 pickup in 1988, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand exported the Lancer to Canada in the first half of the nineties.[6]
Sittipol, a Thai Mitsubishi distributor since 1961, merged with UDMI in 1987 and formed MMC Sittipol. 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.[5] A Thai-only SUV on a L200 chassis, called the Strada G-Wagon, was built in 2001-2005.
Models
The Mirage,[7] Lancer, Grandis and Triton models are all produced locally.[8] In addition, MMTh owns a subsidiary, MMC Engine Co., Ltd. (MEC), located at Laem Chabang Industrial Estates, Tambon Thung Sukhla, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, which produces auto components.[9]
Production and sales
| Year | Production | Domestic sales | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L200 Strada | Lancer | Grandis | Triton | Outlander1 | 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 | 6,725 | 3,350 | 43,769 | - | 143,924 | 43,722 |
| 2006 | 26,901 | 3,165 | 1,089 | 121,687 | - | 152,842 | 26,003 |
| 2007 | 6,257 | 2,693 | 1,865 | 155,027 | 111 | 165,853 | 26,887 |
Notes:
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(sources: Facts & Figures 2000, Facts & Figures 2005, Facts & Figures 2008, Mitsubishi Motors website)
References
- ^ "Mitsubishi Grandis and Strada win Car of the Year Awards at Bangkok International Motor Show", 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.
- ^ a b Mazur, Eligiusz, ed. (2006). World of Cars 2006·2007. Warsaw, Poland: Media Connection Sp. z o.o. p. 272. ISSN 1734-2945.
- ^ Fujimoto, Takahiro; Orihashi, Shinya (January 2002), "The Strategic Effects of Firm Sizes and Dynamic Capabilities on Overseas Operations: A Case-based Comparison of Toyota and Mitsubishi in Thailand and Australia", CIRJE Center for International Research on the Japanese Economy, Discussion Paper F series (in English), no. CIRJE-F-143, Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo, p. 13
- ^ "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.
- ^ Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Google Finance entry
- ^ "Subsidiaries and Affiliates", Mitsubishi Motors website