Mitsubishi Motors Starts Production of Pajero Sport Midsize SUV in Russia – Jul 02, 2013– Tokyo, Japan (Techreleased) – Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced commencement of Pajero Sport midsize SUV production at PCMA Rus in Kaluga, Russia, a joint-venture assembly plant owned by PSA Peugeot Citroën and MMC.
Demand for SUVs has been expected to steadily increase in the Russian market, where MMC commenced full-scale production (CKD*1) of the all-new Outlander SUV at PCMA Rus in November 2012, after initiating SKD*2 production of the previous generation Outlander in April 2010.
The Pajero Sport was first imported and sold in Russia in 2008. The Pajero Sport has won acclaim in the Russian market for its combination of highly-acclaimed go-anywhere all-terrain performance, durability, as well as comfort of a passenger car; cumulatively selling over 24,000 units (as of end of May 2013). MMC aims to build on Pajero Sport‘s success in Russia through local production that caters more to the needs of Russian consumers, enhancing its marketability.
MMC acquired 9% of its Russian distributor*3 in December 2012, aiming for quicker response to market needs. By moving forward combining sales and production functions in Russia, MMC aims to further expand sales in the increasingly competitive market as well as further solidify its operating base in one of its most important markets.
| *1: | Complete Knock-down: Manufacturing vehicles by welding, painting and assembling smaller parts compared to semi knock-down (SKD) production. |
| *2: | Semi Knock-down: Assembling vehicles from several bigger components and parts. |
| *3: | MMC Rus, formerly known as “ROLF Import,” name changed in May 2013 when MMC took a stake in the company. |
Overview of PCMA Rus
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Site
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Kaluga region, Russia
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Location
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180km southwest of Moscow
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Management
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Jean Christophe Marchal
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Surface area
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Approximately 145 ha
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Type of site
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Auto manufacturing (Welding, paint and assembly)
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Production Capacity
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125,000 vehicles per year
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Vehicles produced
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C-segment Peugeot and Citroën brand cars
MMC-brand mid-size SUV (Outlander, Pajero Sport)
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Investment
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EUR 550 million
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Number of employees
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Approximately 2,600 employees (as of June 2013)
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