Mitsubishi Motors to end U.S. vehicle production

[yuiyoshida]

CHICAGO--Mitsubishi Motors Corp. confirmed July 24 that it plans to stop production at its only U.S. factory and sell the plant in central Illinois.

The Japanese automaker reviewed its global supply chain and decided it was necessary to end production at the plant, which has more than 1,200 workers, and find a buyer, said Dan Irvin, the company's North American spokesman. The announcement came after Japanese media reported that the automaker had decided to end production in the United States to focus on Asian markets.

Irvin said Mitsubishi's board will soon make a formal decision on what will happen to the plant in Normal, Illinois, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago. Company officials hope to find a buyer that will maintain the factory's employment.

Annual production at the plant, which makes the Outlander SUV, has fallen to 64,000 vehicles from more than 200,000 in 2002. The company sold only 82,000 vehicles in the United States last year, or less than 1 percent of the total market.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201507250025

[liberal N proud]

1. That was rumored two years ago

I wondered each year since if they were going to follow through.