Mitsubishi's European Sales Plummet 18 Percent in 2008

The year that passed proved to be very difficult for automakers around the globe, so we can't say that we are surprised with Mitsubishi's latest announcement that concerns its European sales. For the calendar year 2008, in the 33 European countries that it operates, Mitsubishi's sales decreased by 18% to 164,462 units versus 2007 (200,045 units). The firm's large SUV sales were among the hardest hit with the Pajero/Montero/Shogun losing 46% and the L200 25%.

However, even Mitsubishi's best selling Euro model, the sub-compact Colt hatch, saw its sales decline by 20,6% to 53,435 units from 67,328 units in 2007. The Japanese automaker believes though that it will win back customers this year with the introduction of the facelifted Colt that was revealed at the Paris Show last October.

MME CY 2008 Sales Results

COUNTRIES

	2008	2007	Variation	Market
1 – Germany	27,023	33,643	- 19.7 %	- 1.8 %**
2 –U.K.	23,497	30,656	- 23.3 %	- 11.3 %**
3 – Italy	12,499	19,461	- 35.8 %	- 13.4%**
4 – Spain	9,641	16,979	- 43.2 %	- 28.1%**
5 – Turkey	8,543	6,971	+ 22.5 %	- 17.5 %
6 –Netherlands	8,450	9,079	- 6.9 %	- 1.1%**
7 – Israel	8,430	9,057	- 6.9 %	+ 1.6 %
8 – Greece	6,081	6,769	- 10.2 %	- 4.5%**
9 – Norway	5,361	5,907	- 9.2 %	- 14.4%**
10 – Poland	5,432	3,433	+ 58.2 %	+ 9.4%**

** Source: ACEA / excludes L200

TOTAL EUROPE	2008	2007	Variation
Overall market (ACEA)*	14,712,158	15,959,804	- 7.8 %
Mitsubishi Motors (ACEA)*	104,929	129,937	- 19.2 %
Mitsubishi Motors (MME)**	164,462	200,045	- 18 %

* ACEA estimated figures / 27 EU countries (incl. Bulgaria and Romania / excl. Malta and Cyprus) + 3 EFTA countries / do not include pickups like L200.

** MME figures / 33 countries / includes L200 / excludes The Ukraine

MODELS	2008	2007	Variation
1 – Colt	53,435	67.328	- 20.6 %
(change-over to new model during Q4 - 2008)
2 – New Outlander	31,561	33,394	- 5.5 %
(launched early 2007)
3 – New L200	28,735	38,369	- 25.1 %
4 – New Lancer	20,802

(launched sequentially from the back end of 2007)