Filed under: Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Mitsubishi, UAW/Unions
Mitsubishi wants to halt U.S. Galant production, switch to small cars for export
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi has a plant in Normal, Illinois that's capable of churning out 240,000 vehicles per year, if the demand is there. Currently, the plant produces the Galant, Eclipse and Endeavor CUV, a model mix that doesn't even spur enough excitement to drive the plant to its 100,000 vehicle per year break even point. Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko would like to shuffle the models produced in Normal, focusing less on the Galant and producing more cars for global sale. For instance, vehicles like the Lancer or Outlander could be built in the Illinois plant instead of the Galant. Since those vehicles are offered worldwide, the hope is that building them in the U.S. for export to other markets would bump the plant's volume past 100,000 vehicles per year on the strength of demand elsewhere. Mitsubishi has only been able to sell 80,000 vehicles in the U.S. this year, and Masuko wants more small cars to meet growing consumer desire for fuel sippers. One thing seems certain is that the Normal plant won't be idled, having just been given a four-year extension with a UAW labor deal.
Gallery: 2009 Mitsubishi Galant
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail 6:02PM (11/03/2008)
that galant needs a redesign, bad...
the new taillights actually look good but they need a new front ASAP.
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Xcountryflyer 6:05PM (11/03/2008)
Agree. The current Galant is horrible. You have to think that Mitsu is so far out of the family car race that it might not even be worth it to put much effort into that market.
Jj 6:11PM (11/03/2008)
It has all been downhill for the Galant since the 91-92 VR4.
hoosker_doo 8:19PM (11/03/2008)
@Kumail
I agree 100%. Not too long after the Evo X concept came out there was a slick looking concept, ZT, that adapted that same shark-nose styling. I would love to see Mitsu follow through w/ that....and possibly a rebirth of the VR4 Galant. Just throwin' it out there :P
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/mitsubishi-concept-zt/390827/
Turkey Pie 6:06PM (11/03/2008)
I never cared for those 3 cars at all.
Mitusbishi should import their small Pajero 3 door or make it here.
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Gabagool 6:21PM (11/03/2008)
So Eclipse is ugly but Pajero isn't?
Come on.
ugg.tryptophan 6:15PM (11/03/2008)
bring the colt over!
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P.V. 6:20PM (11/03/2008)
This is good. Mitsubishi makes great small cars, but compared to the competitors, the Galant, Outlander, and Endeavor have been also-rans. It's good that Mitsubishi is focusing on what it does best: small cars (which happens to be a very lucrative market), and killing those vehicles that it has never had much success with.
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Tourian 6:21PM (11/03/2008)
Why not just make a better Galant? But yeah, if they don't have any money to develop one that is understandable, but it seems like leaving the market entirely is not a good idea. Making the plant profitable by building other cars is a great idea for the short term, but long term goal should be to make a better Galant (and Eclipse and Endeavor) to build there too.
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Turkey Pie 6:25PM (11/03/2008)
The little Pajero is fuel efficient and good for bad weather.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWCdr01uozI
Sandeep 6:43PM (11/03/2008)
Mitsubishi has a chicken-and-egg problem- no one wants to buy the car because no one knows anything about Mitsubishi, and no one knows anything about Mitsu because no one buys the cars!
I mean, some of their product are at least decent enough to compete with Big 3 also-rans (Endeavor and Outlander aren't half bad) but the lack of an image just really hurts.
The Galant, however, needs to get better or cheaper, fast.
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happy_penguin 6:53PM (11/03/2008)
What is all this Mitsubishi talk. Clearly that's a picture of a Toyota Camr...... Oh... nevermind. It IS a Mitsubishi.
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Jimbo 7:19PM (11/03/2008)
They're going to halt Galant production but not the Endeavor? While I never see either of them on the road, I'd think a midsize sedan would sell better than the abomination that is the Endeavor.
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UbEr JorDan 10:23PM (11/03/2008)
Jimbo, Have you ever even driven an Endeavor? They are one of the easiest SUVS to drive and get in/out of, they handle well, are roomy, they have plenty of power, and are economical. Check out the reliability rating on them, Mitsubishi may build cars that have aged some, and considered undesirable by some, but nonetheless they build very reliable and capable cars. They do need to focus on their advertising and media so that more people are drawn to the dealerships.
Sid 7:25PM (11/03/2008)
I used to really like this car once upon a time. But that was back in 2001. And it still looks the exact same in a market where even the Camry now looks...respectable. I don't think Mitsubishi even knows they're still making these!
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Michael 7:47PM (11/03/2008)
If Mitsubishi could make a Galant Evolution, with the Lancer Evolution's all wheel drive system, maybe a turbo V6 making 400 horsepower, and a 6MT (optional TC-SST), that... would be a pretty awesome car, don't you agree?
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freckles 9:08PM (11/03/2008)
that would be awesome. someone replied on here a few months ago that mitsubishi has the opportunity to be a niche manufacturer; offering exciting cars that aren't the normal camry or accord; similar to mazda
Tsunami Racer 8:40PM (11/03/2008)
gosh, i forgot Normal was a UAW plant. i guess that's what happens when you inherit the headaches of a joint venture with the big detroit three.
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AladdinSane 10:09PM (11/03/2008)
The suits at Mitsubishi never gave the Galant what it needed to endure in this U.S. market. No ESC in its lower model ranges, very little promo, an interior that reeks of another century, let alone 2008...the list goes on.
Too bad...it coulda been a contender. Instead, it gets a one way ticket to PalookaVille. I'm NOT surprised.
The Endeavor? Please...another no hit for Mitsu.
Eclipse? It can continue to run, but it too needs attention in more ways than one. Give the GS ESC, for starters.
The Lancer may be a surprise hit for Mitsu if it plays its cards right, plus also introduces the Lancer liftback version.
Oh well...
Peace!
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Jrejre 10:15PM (11/03/2008)
I have never seen this car on the roads or in person.
Or maybe I have? Would I remember if I had?
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