Mitsubishi to double production at Illinois plant

Dan Roth — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:43:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Mitsubishi, Russia

According to reports citing Japan's Nikkei daily, Mitsubishi Motors North America will be cranking up production at its Normal, Illinois plant, but not because the company expects a 100-percent increase in demand here to match the 70,000 units the plant will soon be cranking out. Instead, the plant will be making Outlander Sport models intended for export from the U.S. to markets like Russia and Latin America. To make way for the increased Outlander Sport output, the slow-moving Galant family sedan will leave the building. No replacement has been announced.

Mitsubishi has plants worldwide, but those in closest proximity to strengthening markets are reportedly running at full tilt, so the move makes use of plants in markets where demand is slack. Mitsubishi has seen its fortunes in the U.S. atrophy, and even though sales improved somewhat last year, this production shift shows that turnabout is fair play, with the offshore parent using its American assets to make cars for markets that would typically be producing the goods, not consuming them.

Mitsubishi to double production at Illinois plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Safety, Crossover, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi may be one of the smallest auto manufacturers, but it's on its game when it comes to safety. The Outlander Sport compact crossover joins Mitsubishi's Lancer on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety list of Top Safety Picks.

The designation applies only to 2012 models, as Mitsubishi made changes to the roof design this year that helped the Outlander Sport score a "Good" rating on the roof strength test. It also earned "Good" marks on frontal offset and side impact tests, and with standard stability control it met all the criteria for the IIHS award.

See below for the full press release.

Continue reading 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport grabs IIHS Top Safety Pick originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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