Mitsubishi mulling to launch a small car in India

Mitsubishi Motors, a Japan based leading car maker, is mulling over to launch a new small car in the Indian market. Pritam Saikia, head-Marketing at HM-Mitsubishi JV in India commented that although India is an emerging market for Mitsubishi, it is too premature to comment on company's future product plans, including the small car. He added that all of company's expansion plans are on track and it will take a call on its small car plans at a later point of time.

It is expected that this prospective small car will be exported to the potential auto markets of the world like Europe after manufacturing it in the Indian market. However, the company is yet to made an official announcement in this regard. After its launch in the Indian market, the Mitsubishi small car will possibly be competing with the like of some of the most popular small cars in the country including Maruti Alto and Hyundai Santro Xing.

Besides this, the company is reported to be developing an eco-car model, which is expected to be introduced in the world market by year 2012. The new eco-car will be manufactured in Thailand. It is widely speculated that after its launch in the Thailand market, the company will roll-out this car in the Indian and Chinese market which are one of the fastest growing auto markets in the world.

At present, the company has about half a dozen cars in its India portfolio including Mitsubishi Cedia, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mitsubishi Pajero and Mitsubishi RVR. The company is planning to take its manufacturing capacity to 1,00,000 units in the Indian market from existing capacity of 12,000 units per month.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation entered into the Indian market in year 1998 in partnership with one of the oldest car maker in the country, Hindustan-Motors. The Mitsubishi Lancer was the first car launched by this JV in the country.

Read More on : Mitsubishi Pajero