Mitsubishi targets 15% output hike

MANILA, Philippines - Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) is targeting to hike its vehicle output by 15 percent next year on expected strong demand for the election season.

MMPC first vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin said the company is looking to jack up production next year to 15,000 units from an expected 13,000 output this year.

“There is election spending normally during election time so sales of vehicles really shoot up especially for our vehicles L-300 and Adventure. These are really the utility vehicles that are being used for the campaign period,” Dytianquin said.

The L-300 and Adventure are currently being assembled in MMPC’s plants in Cainta, Rizal and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

A joint report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association showed Mitsubishi maintained its number two position in the local automotive industry after capturing 19.1 percent market share as of October.

MMPC’s 10-month 2015 sales have reached 44,800 units, with a record monthly sales of 5,398 units posted in October.

Dytianquin said MMPC is currently waiting for the implementing rules and regulations of the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program to be published before the company finalizes its intent to join the program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) started its probe yesterday on the sudden and unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents involving Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s Montero model, with complainants gathering to push for the recall of the vehicles.

A group of 30 complainants presented their respective SUA experiences involving the Montero to the DTI investigating panel.

One of the complainants recalled his experience on how the SUA incident of his family’s Montero Sport during a funeral march caused the death of two individuals and injured to 13 people.

Charlie Tumaru, a lawyer who also had his own SUA experience with the Montero Sport, said the complainants want Mitsubishi to buy back their vehicles.

“Since this now involves public safety and welfare, then they should recognize and acknowledge the problem in their car and remedy it. Until they can tell us what is the defect of their car and what is the problem in their car, then they should stop selling it,” Tumaru said.

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. said it would not issue a recall of the Montero model as the company stand firm on its claim that the SUA incidents were not caused by technical glitches.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines said the company is open to any third party agency or group that can conduct technical test for its Montero model.

Meanwhile, the complainants cried foul over insinuations the reason they are raising their concerns is simply to sabotage the sale of the upcoming All-New Montero Sport.

“We have here in our groups lawyers, doctors, and businessmen, so do you think we can be bought or told to do something like that? I don’t think so,” Tumaru said.

The DTI investigating panel is tasked to submit a report and recommendation after the investigation which may include the issuance of the appropriate order for mandatory product recall and prohibition or seizure from public sale or distribution of the product.