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Japanese automotive company Mitsubishi, through its Indian partner, is set to roll out two more models in the sports utility vehicle segment.
While the first launch is likely to be the new Montero, possibly before the end of the current calendar year in a segment where Audi has its Q7, the second is likely to be its crossover, Outlander, possibly in the early part of 2016.
Opening a Mitsubishi showroom in Banjara Hills here, its 43rd dealership in the country, P. Vijayan, Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Motors Strategic Business Unit, said there is a growing interest in the higher-end sports utility vehicle segment where Mitsubishi operates.
It’s popular Pajero range is offered in three variants, and takes on competition from the Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Motors’ Santa Fe and Mahindra SsangYong’s Rexton.
The manufacturing unit near Chennai churns out the Pajero and addresses the Indian market where about 22,000 to 24,000 units are sold annually. The company sold about 2,200 units last year and expects to increase this number with the launch of two more models by early next year. Punjab and Kerala account for good volumes, he said.
Vijayan said the company facility in Chennai has a capacity to produce 24,000 units per annum in two shifts. The manufacturing unit is used for the Mitsubishi model and has a separate line for the Isuzu range of vehicles.
Asked if the commissioning of the new plant by Isuzu in Andhra Pradesh would impact its manufacturing, Vijayan said the new unit would manufacture other product ranges and their facility would continue to make the models currently produced for Isuzu.
Having decided to continue to focus on sports utility vehicles, Mitsubishi is considering bringing in other models while evaluating another segment referred to as the Sports UtilityTruck, which is popular in other markets.
The Pride Mitsubishi dealership, which commissioned this new facility, has sold more than 200 Pajero Sports vehicles in Hyderabad and Telangana, according to Suresh Reddy, Managing Director, of the dealership.
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