Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand)


Mitsubishi Motors is the Thai operation of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. It became the first Thai automobile manufacturer to export vehicles overseas in 1988, and has remained the country's largest exporter every year since.
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand is currently the most productive of the parent corporation's four manufacturing facilities outside Japan, with 133,109 vehicles produced in 2006. It exported its one millionth pickup truck in October 2007. In anticipation of a growth in the market for pickup trucks, Mitsubishi is investing 21 billion baht to increase local capacity to 200,000 units. In November 2015, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand celebrated production of its four millionth vehicle.
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand owns a subsidiary, MMC Engine, located at Laem Chabang Industrial Estates, Tambon Thung Sukhla, Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, which produces auto components.

History

Mitsubishi has had a presence in Thailand since 1961. Mitsubishi began building trucks in Thailand in 1966, by a company called United Development Motor Industry Co . In 1965, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries became the majority shareholder of UDMI.
The Galant sedan followed in 1972 and the L200 pickup truck in 1981. MMC acquired 40% of Sittipol Motor Co, the distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Thailand, in late 1973. In 1987, SMC and UDMI merged to become MMC Sittipol Co., Ltd. with MMC holding 48%. In 1988, Mitsubishi Mirage was exported to supply Chrysler Canada. In 1992, local production at Laem Chabang, Thailand was started. In 1996, local production at Laemchabang #2 Factory was started. In August 1997, MMC became the majority owner of MSC. In 2003, MSC changed its name to Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd. In January 2004, Fuso trucks business was split to form Mitsubishi Fuso Truck.
In 2001 Mitsubishi increased their stake from 46.2 to 99.9 percent, followed by a name change to "Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd." in November 2003. A Thai-only SUV on a L200 chassis, called the Strada G-Wagon, was built in 2001–2005.

Current models

Manufactured locally

The company surpassed a cumulative five million production units by 2018.
Mitsubishi Motors Thailand exported 332,700 vehicles in 2019, a 3.9% drop. Mitsubishi posted local sales in 2019 of 88,244 units, up 4.4%, overcoming a Thai car market that fell 3.3% to 1,007,552 units sold in 2019.