Mitsubishi rolls out first local Mirage hatchback

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) targets to produce around 21,000 Mirage units this year as it starts to roll out the model at its plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

MMPC first vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin told reporters the company has planned a total output of around 42,500 units, half of which will consist of the Mirage G4 sedan and Mirage hatchback.

MMPC unveiled the first Mirage hatchback off the assembly line during the turnover ceremony for its new president and chief executive officer Thursday evening.

The company previously, imported Mirage hatchback units from Thailand.

Last February, MMPC presented the first locally manufactured Mirage G4 sedan to President Duterte.

The Mirage hatchback and G4 sedan are the company’s entry to the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program, which aims to position the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s car assembly hub.

MMPC has invested P4.3 billion in its Sta. Rosa plant to produce the 200,000 Mirage units in six years required by the CARS program.

With the 21,000 Mirage units targeted this year, Dytianquin said production levels for both the Mirage hatchback and G4 Sedan are rather low, given the 200,000 units needed.

“Considering this year, we’re far below since we have to give way to the Adventure and L300,” he said.

MMPC earlier announced it would phase out the Adventure and L300 models later this year in order to comply with the government’s stricter emission standards. By next year, Dytianquin said the Sta. Rosa plant would be able to focus on producing more Mirage units.

Asked if prices of its Mirage models will be lower as they are manufactured locally, Dytianquin said the company is looking to maintain the current market price range from P560,000 to P720,000 per unit.

“Anyway, this price is very affordable at the moment. So we feel there’s no pressure to really bring down the price,” he said.

The company official added MMPC has not yet felt the benefit of localization since it is still in the initial stage. “But on the second stage, that will be probably where there will be some changes already, because by the second stage we will involve stamping of the metal parts. We’re set to have the stamping plant open by next year,” Dytianquin said. MMPC has been engaged locally in manufacturing of vehicles for more than 50 years. The transfer of Mirage production in the country will lead to the creation of new jobs within the company and will benefit as well 31 local parts suppliers. “MMPC is now actively working on its parts localization activities to further increase the local content ratio,” he said.