Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is engaged in the process of exploring the viability of entering the India small car market. The company is also considering the possibility of starting operations in India without is current partner in India the Hindustan Motors. The reason for the company’s interest in the small car market is due to the fact that the Indian car industry driven by small cars.
According to Mr. Masahiko Ueki Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Japan Executive Officer and Corporate General Manager of Asia and ASEAN, the company will need to set up and expand its sales and service network in India prior to build up volume sales.
Commenting on the possibility of separating from Hindustan Motors, Mr. Ueki stated that the company is weighing all available options and one of them is going solo. However, manufacturing the small car at the Hindustan Motors’s facility in Chennai may also be an option. Currently, the company is going to start the assembling of its newly launched sports utility vehicle Pajero Sport at the HM’s manufacturing plant at Chennai. Until now, the existing Pajero had been fully imported and thus highly priced. Localization of the manufacturing process will enable the company to lower costs.
The first of the small cars to be launched by Mitsubishi may be the hatchback with a 1.2 liter petrol engine that is being developed for the Thailand market.
