Mitsubishi PH cancels Xpander Cross launch due to COVID-19 spread

If you’ll recall, the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is scheduled to be launched on Friday, March 13. Well, this is no longer the case after Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) announced today that it is canceling the vehicle’s public launch event in Makati City due to the spread of the virus.

“In line with the government’s declaration of State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 today, we regret to inform you that MMPC has canceled the launching of the New Xpander Cross this coming Friday,” the Japanese car manufacturer announced in an e-mail sent to members of the media.

For those of you who’ve been hoping to see the car in the metal, the company says it will push through with its Xpander Cross mall display at the Glorietta 2 Palm Drive Activity Center from March 13 to 15. Priced at P1,255,000 and packing the same 1.5-liter MIVEC DOHC engine (103hp and 141Nm of torque) as the regular Xpander MPV, new model is set to take on the likes of the Toyota Rush and Suzuki’s soon-to-launch Ertiga-based XL7.

That MMPC would choose to cancel, not postpone, a launch of this magnitude says a lot about how seriously the company is taking the coronavirus’s spread in the Philippines.