Just to back up.. In agreement with Pjork- Mitsu is in serious crap financially. It is a valid concern when they are offering 5/60, 10/100 and scheduled maintenance. How does this build value if you are unsure if the company will be here in 4, 6, 10 years. Who's gonna honor your warranty then? I'm hoping Mitsu doesn't end up another Daewoo. They are not comparable to Daewoo as far as cars are concerned, only in their financial situation. They have already projected a massive loss for 2004 and 2005, a year we're not even in yet. They are pulling out of Australia, closing plants and cutting costs. I've seen companies in this kind of shape and know what comes next in most cases. I've owned 7 DSM's for the last 8 years so I'm no hater, but have to look at the facts. In Japan their Mitsubishi Fuso trucks are killing people, wheels fall off, clutches blow up, catch fire, etc. They are not allowed to sell in parts of Japan. Daimler wants no part of giving them a hand after years of safety issue coverups, their reputation is tarnished in Japan -and refused them any more working capital. Luckily another Jap firm gave them the money they needed to stay afloat in a debt for equity swap, lowering Daimler's stake in Mitsu to 20-25%. The CEO stated that this is Mitsu's last chance at being an automaker. If they can't make it from here forward, Bye, Bye ...

Run a search on google, CNN Money, Bloomberg- decide if you think this is the carmaker that will be there for you when you need them...

 

Damn.

 

There are(were) two plants in Austraila. One engine plant and one vehicle plant. The engine plant is being closed, so Austrailian made Diamantes(Magnas) for their market will now have Japanese made engines like our Diamantes did. A new Magna is being developed using the Project America platform. New Galants don't exist in Austrailia so if they are going to use the same platform we use for our Galant to make their Diamante, it doesn't make much sense for us to export a car from them and call it a Diamante and sell it right along side of a similar car. So the Diamante is going away for now. The plans were to stretch the Galant chassis and build the Diamante in Normal like the Maxima and the Avalon are built here off of Altima and Camry platforms, but the demand is not there.

One death. One mother killed and two injured kids is one incident way too many and they (Fuso) should pay dearly. But don't spin the story with hyperbole into "killing people." The temporary injunctions against Fuso (and to some extent MMC) are just that, temporary.

Umm, check all the sources you posted. DCX just renowed their vows to continue working with Mitsu for small and midsize vehicles. The also own controlling interest in Fuso and are commited to recovering that brand too.

 

I just get sick of all the *****in from the peanut gallery about the 05's not being here yet or the pricing not being out. It is not a life or death situation. I love this car as much as the next guy on this forum. But, when it comes to the Evo in America patience is something that people need to learn. Hell it ONLY! took over a decade for it to get here. What are a few weeks extra for the new model!

 

you're wrong... they are comitted to seeing those vehicles they invested on common platforms with Mitsu to come to market so they don't lose their investment and need to re-evaluate their marketing strategy.

but for all intents and purposes Daimler is out... you don't let an investement lose bilions of worth unless you realize further subsidizing is even a worse strategy. let alone your control over a company.

they are comitted to Fuso trucks until they can recooperate the stock worth of the company... and only if it occurs in a timely manner. they'll be out soon enough as well.

... and man, the 3 series reliability is far greater than the lancer/Evo. and i couldn't give a flying f#ck about status.

dsm95hybrid thanks for the support....

you can like... love something to the point of blindness. if Mitsu is to change for the better, it needs to know that people are aware of it's turmoil financially and are demanding more... they haven't changed after 3yrs of Daimler investment...
hopefully they are scarred enough now....

only problem is finding out-side upper management with vision and conviction to change the company... Japanese are notorious for not making difficult management decisions necessary for viability.

and i'm not bashing the MR.... i'm just sick of misinformation and waiting... and with Mitsu i'm not making up stuff, just saying the way it is.

don't be so sensitive...

and if all the respected automotive journalists can appreciate cars outside of the STi and Evo, who drive everything from Kias to Zondas, I guess maybe there are cars with great handling but less raw performance orientation than the Japanese super-duo after all... like the 3 series.

cheers.

 

Can't we all just get along !?

 

That's like exactly what I said, what is your point? Mitsubishi has been developing small and midsized cars for Chrysler for years. All the rest of that stuff you posted is just your opinion and nothing more. Enjoy your yuppie-mobile.

It's funny. You know all this stuff about what DCX is going to do next, what the Japanese government is up to, what the future holds for Mitsubishi through your great wisdom and insight, but yet you don't know when and how much the MR is.

 

the japanese government.... well time will tell, they already ponnied a billion yen, hmm i wonder why not more? oh yeah, their banking system is in sh@t and they're bailing it out... oh, and what's inflation again, is that what's going on with the yen? hmmm...

dude, go read something other than motorweek. and stop being personal.

 

oh yeah, and the difference between our posts is that Daimler will seperate completely from Mitsu as soon as they divert all common platform manufacturing to their plants. big problem for Mitsu.

 

I'd say it is a bigger problem for DC. Why? Becuase Mitsu supplied most of the research and technology for them. Yes, I know!!! DC supplied alot of money for Mitsu, but DC wouldn't have most of the R & D it has without Mitsu. Mitsu can be very innovative. And, in my opinion(just that, my opinion) if Mitsu wouldn't have had such a crappy CEO (not Finbar, he is awesome) and crappy corporate, here and over seas. They wouldn't be in this mess. It isn't their product, it's their image and money management thats the problem.

 

You might want to check your info, yesterdays automotive news had another article stating that DC is going forward with new joint-ventures with Mitsu. If they were going to end their partnership completely they would not go forward with the global engine project, which also involves Hyundai, the new truck or the other planned projects. The truth is that no one knows how long the two will work together BUT, DC needs Mitsu as much or more than Mitsu needs DC. DC is in a world of headaches when it comes to Asia and Mitsu is their best hope there. They have also announced plans to co-build a new midsize sedan. Sounds like they may be around longer than you think.

 

Some of you guys make it sound like the MR is/will be the sole savior of Mitsu. Their bread and butter cars are the eclipses/galants and regular lancers.

Look at Ford. How are they constantly selling bread and butter cars like the past Taurases, Escorts, Tempos, Foci, and etc? It's like saying Ford needs to sell a bunch of 'stang GT's and Cobra to survive in the market place.

Mitsu made a tactical error in making a truck platform, even w/ Chrysler's help. Look at the demographics . . . are those buyers willing to even look at import trucks? Nissan is floundering. Honda doesn't dare to step into the ring. As for Toyo, they were smart to adverstise their trucks as tough. You can see their tv ads looking slick and closely similar to chevy marketing style. Then, look at the step child in the Mazda trucks.

 

Good point although Ford actually loses money making passenger cars, they make their money selling F-series trucks and SUV's. Toyota now sells more cars than they do and even Chevy is really a truck company now. In Arizona, they sell about 2 1/2 trucks to every one car. Not to mention they make a lot more money on them. The truth is no matter how well the EVO does it is not going to substantially effect Mitsu's bottom line. They have to make money selling galants, lancers, and endeavors. Those three car lines are going to make or break Mitsu.

 

Nissan is certainly not floundering. The Titan has outsold the Tundra since Feb. The Titan is selling more and more each month as F-150 and 1500 owners trade their trucks in for one. The Titan is still gaining market share even with the ridiculous financing and incentives from the domestics. Do you expect Nissan to outsell the F-150 in it's first couple years of existence? haha, that's not even a goal! Nissan is more than happy with current Titan progress. Honda is about to come out with a truck, they are getting a late start though. Have you not stayed current on the industry or something? The Domestics are DYING!! They are the ones floundering. Haha, marketing style. It's easy to sway an uninformed mind. BTW, ALL brands advertise their trucks as "tough."

 

Have you look at the stats on truck sales? Who gets most of the gov't contracts? Both GM and Ford add that to their stats.

Show me how Nissan is pounding the daylights out of their competition. Quarterly sales DO NOT show the overall picture of how many domestic trucks on the road in both private and public sector.

You go wave the "domestic truck sales" are dying. You're only fooling yourself. Toyo had done it, because they have surpassed Ford in the #2 global sales race, and Ford has been market savvy and streamlining for the longest of time.



BTW, ALL brands advertise their trucks as "tough."
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You don't understand the art of marketing. All companies have their calling cards in their ads. If you can't tell their stylistic difference, you have pigeon-holed yourself.