Mitsubishi 2002 Annual Report Download - page 35

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33
CHINA
Total market sales in China grew 13.0% to 2,128,000 units. MMC’s local sales continued
to grow, rising 32.5% to 41,000 units, among which the most popular model was
PAJERO
.
In June 2002, MMC concluded a technical licensing agreement with Beijing Jeep
Corporation (BJC) for the local manufacture of the
PAJERO SPORT
(marketed as
the
CHALLENGER
in Japan) by BJC from the first quarter of 2003. The announce-
ment followed soon after DC’s extension of its 30-year joint-venture contract with
BJC. Established in May 1983, BJC was the first automotive joint venture between
a Chinese firm and a foreign manufacturer. The new agreement paves the way for
enhanced use of local production capacity and the extension of the MMC brand to
new models sold in China, creating a much stronger product lineup. Having already
established its international popularity through encouraging sales in Europe and
America, the
PAJERO SPORT
will be the first MMC model to be produced locally for
sale in China. Under the new agreement, BJC becomes a three-way joint venture,
incorporated in the U.S., in which all three partners have an approximately equal stake.
TAIWAN
Total auto sales in the Taiwanese market declined 17.3% to 331,000 units. MMC’s local
sales subsidiary, CMC, recorded sales of 72,000 vehicles, a 13.7% drop relative to the
previous year. Despite the fall in volume sales, MMC’s share of the market rose from
21.0% to 21.8%.
AUSTRALIA
Total demand in the Australian auto market declined 1.8% to 754,000 vehicles. Sales by
local MMC subsidiary Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) fell 7.2% to 66,000 units.
Exports of MMC models produced in Australia increased to 19,000 units, a gain of 59.6%
over the previous year. This was principally due to a significant rise in exports to North
America, which jumped 54.6% year on year to 17,000 units.
TRUCK & BUS
JAPAN
Although total sales of trucks and buses in the Japanese market slumped to a 30-year
low, MMC retained its market leadership for the sixth consecutive year with a share of
30.5%, roughly on a par with the previous year.
In February 2002, MMC launched the upgraded range of FUSO
FIGHTER
medium-duty
trucks. The new range complies with Japanese noise/vibration regulations that came into
force in 2001, and all models feature air suspension and ABS braking systems as standard
fittings. The range also includes the option of a new 5-speed automatic transmission.