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Mitsubishi to ship 20,000 SUVs |
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Mitsubishi plans to export 20,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) built in Thailand to 80 countries in the first year of overseas sales for the new model. The Pajero Sport SUV model will carry the same name in every market where it will be sold, said Michiro Imai, the president of Mitsubishi Motors Thailand Co. Russia will be the first overseas destination for the Pajero Sport, which made its debut on Tuesday at a motor show that is running in Moscow until Sept 7. About 10,000 SUVs per year will be shipped to Russia. Mitsubishi regards Russia as an important market after it sold 100,000 vehicles there last year. It is looking to sell 140,000 units this year. ''That is why Moscow was chosen to unveil the new Pajero SUV before the vehicle is introduced in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania,'' said an industry source. Mounted on a newly developed ladder frame chassis, the Pajero Sport distributed in Russia will be available with 2.5- and 3.2-litre commonrail diesel engines or a 3.5-litre V6 gasoline unit. In Thailand, two- and four-wheel-drive diesel versions will go on sale in October. Four models and four colours are available with prices starting at 950,000 baht and ranging up to 1.24 million for the top model. Mr Imai said he believed the Pajero Sport would be well received even though local automobile sales have been sluggish. The company aims to sell 3,000 Pajero Sport units by the March 31, the end of its current financial year.
Mitsubishi's Laem
Chabang plant in Chon Buri which also makes Triton pickup trucks is the
production base for the Pajero Sport. The plant produces 200,000
vehicles per year.
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Bangkok Post. 28.08.2008 |
