Mitsubishi…remember it? Going back a couple decades, it was a rising star in the U.S. market. Now, it hopes to make a real comeback with its 5-year Momentum 2030 North America business plan. That will “start immediately,” the Japanese automaker says, with an assortment of new and completely refreshed vehicles heading to American showrooms — including EVs, plug-ins and conventional hybrids.
After an uncertain start, U.S. auto sales showed solid momentum in March, with big gains by Japan’s big three and record numbers from Hyundai – which was charged up by EV demand. But Tesla posted a rare sales slid and GM lost ground during the first quarter. Meanwhile, high transaction prices continue to keep many buyers out of the market.
Plans call for collaboration on new models for the U.S. market Despite having been part of the same alliance for since 2016, when Nissan acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors, there’s been little indication of their alliance in the U.S. market. The exception is...
If the Mitsubishi Outlander was just another plug-in hybrid SUV, that would be good enough to make this vehicle a strong contender. It’s got enough battery to cover 38 miles of electric driving on a charge. But the Outlander PHEV is much more than just another hybrid – it’s an effective all-weather driving machine with a sophisticated all-wheel drive system and a luxury interior. Read the whole review at Headlight.News.
Headlight News for the Week of 2-19-24 – Ford Plans Low-Cost EVs – Cybertruck Rust – Rivian Teases New EV – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Review – and a Week in Automotive History.
Despite a modest increase in sales last year, Mitsubishi Motors earnings took a tumble during the most recent quarter. Bargain-basement pricing and rising incentives took much of the blame. But it hasn’t helped that the automaker has a miniscule product lineup that leaves little for dealers to sell. Company officials now hope to tap allies Nissan and Renault to help add new products to help put Mitsubishi back on the radar, especially in the critical U.S. market.
It’s four years since the last Tokyo Motor Show took place, and even then, it was fading into obscurity. Organizers hope to give it a boost of adrenaline in an updated form — and with a new name. While foreign brands are largely absent, again, there’ll be lots happening at the new Japan Mobility Show as the nation’s automakers charge in with an assortment of all-electric concepts and production models.