Mitsubishi Production Japan (Model) : 2016/17

After a production slump in 2016, a mini-revival took place in 2017. The reason was the introduction of the Eclipse Cross model which constituted 48,000 of the 58,000 gain. The total of just under 600,000 isn't huge, but when you consider that domestic sales were under 100,000 (and some of that was imports from factories elsewhere), then the vast majority of production is exported.

The Outlander and RVR are the mainstay of production and export, while the eK models are Kei cars for domestic consumption. Most of the smaller models had dips, with the Lancer-saurus finally on the way out. It's done a sterling job for MMC but is now well and truly past its use by date.

Japan
16	17	Brand	2017	%	+/-		2016	%	+/-
1	1	Outlander	162,887	27.6%	12%		145,838	27.5%	-21%
2	2	RVR (ASX)	120,079	20.4%	-13%		138,324	26.0%	48%
4	3	eK Wagon	90,013	15.3%	30%		69,359	13.1%	-28%
3	4	eK Sapce	79,175	13.4%	19%		66,742	12.6%	-26%
-	5	Eclipse Cross	48,526	8.2%	n/a		-
6	6	Pajero	36,142	6.1%	-20%		45,406	8.5%	-15%
5	7	Lancer	34,749	5.9%	-31%		50,281	9.5%	-58%
7	8	Delica	14,300	2.4%	37%		10,462	2.0%	-16%
8	9	i-MIEV	3,195	0.5%	-25%		4,254	0.8%	-10%
9	10	Jeep	321	0.1%	-47%		602	0.1%	28%
		Total	589,387		11%		531,268		-19%

Data source: MMC.

Mitsubishi Global Production (Model) : 2016/17

Mitsubishi was struggling with a fuel consumption scandal but in 2016 Nissan stepped in to buy a 34% share of the company, making it the majority controlling shareholder. This made it part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Already that is having a positive effect as we shall see.

First, we look at total production. It was down 11% in 2016 and up 18% in 2017, which has got it back past the 2015 level and a major step in the right direction. Two new models helped, of course, both SUVs, as did the eK Kei cars which both grew significantly.

The Outlander model is the most popular with 21% of total production. The Triton pick up is next, the numbers including the Fiat Fullback but I'm not certain on that. The Minicab micro truck is a Suzuki model and as I wasn't sure about how that arrangement works, so I didn't include it here. The numbers were tiny anyway.

So it comes across to me that since the Nissan acquisition MMC has taken on a new lease of life. The increase is significant and from what I see for 2018, things will continue that way. A big thanks to Mitsubishi for being so open, more so than any other Japanese manufacturer and in fact with all other car makers. More detail will follow soon.

Total Production By Model
16	17	Brand	2017	%	+/-		2016	%	+/-
1	1	Outlander	265,698	21.2%	41%		188,212	17.7%	-22%
3	2	Triton	175,811	14.0%	12%		157,082	14.8%	13%
2	3	RVR	161,332	12.9%	-8%		176,159	16.6%	-1%
4	4	Mirage/Attrage	151,068	12.0%	-1%		152,906	14.4%	11%
5	5	eK Wagon	90,013	7.2%	30%		69,359	6.5%	-28%
7	6	Pajero Sport	83,195	6.6%	26%		66,053	6.2%	-20%
6	7	eK Space	79,175	6.3%	19%		66,742	6.3%	-26%
8	8	Delica	62,086	4.9%	13%		55,153	5.2%	4%
-	9	Eclipse Cross	48,526	3.9%	n/a		-
9	10	Lancer	40,590	3.2%	-25%		54,133	5.1%	-58%
10	11	Pajero	36,142	2.9%	-20%		45,406	4.3%	-15%
-	12	Xpander	35,727	2.8%	n/a		-
11	13	T120	10,464	0.8%	-11%		11,712	1.1%	-50%
12	14	Adventure	8,128	0.6%	-29%		11,376	1.1%	58%
14	15	Colt Plus	3,779	0.3%	10%		3,431	0.3%	-15%
13	16	i-MIEV	3,195	0.3%	-25%		4,254	0.4%	-10%
15	17	Jeep	321	0.0%	-47%		602	0.1%	28%
		Total	1,255,250		18%		1,062,580		-11%

Data source: MMC.

Japan Passenger Car Production : 2016-17

Unit production was up 6%, a sizable figure for a large volume industry. 8.348 million were made in 2017, a large number indeed. That's the highest total since 2012. There is an evenness about the figures for each maker, Toyota excepted.

Toyota unsurprisingly leads the way with just over a third of the total. Mazda makes most of its cars at home so not that surprising it is second. Daihatsu's total is amazing considering it is for the domestic market only. Subaru had a small decline but that was enough to drop it two places.

Passenger Cars
16	17	Brand	Units '17	Share	+/-	Units '16	Share
1	1	Toyota	2,869,600	34.4%	0.8%	2,847,400	36.2%
2	2	Mazda	961,000	11.5%	-0.7%	967,500	12.3%
3	3	Nissan	921,500	11.0%	10.4%	835,100	10.6%
4	4	Honda	788,900	9.5%	0.5%	784,700	10.0%
6	5	Suzuki	767,700	9.2%	29.2%	594,150	7.5%
7	6	Daihatsu	749,800	9.0%	33.3%	562,300	7.1%
5	7	Subaru	709,650	8.5%	-2.5%	727,750	9.2%
8	8	Mitsubishi	579,650	6.9%	4.4%	555,000	7.0%
		Total	8,347,800		6.0%	7,873,900