Mitsubishi’s Brazilian importer MMC Automotores will invest about $US44 million this year to produce two more Mitsubishi vehicles at its plant in Catalão city, in Goiás state.
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One new model will enter production at the end of this year while production of the second will start in 2007.
MMC Automotores has not named the two vehicles but unofficial sources told just-auto one will be a version of the Pajero [Shogun/Montero/Challenger] Sport SUV.
The investment will also allow the company to increase its production capacity from 40,000 to 60,000 units per year.
MMC Automotores opened its Catalão plant in 1998 to build the L200 pick-up. It now makes two previous-generation models plus the small Pajero TR4 SUV (known in Europe as the Shogun Pinin and in Japan as the Pajero Io).
In 2004, MMC Automotores sold 20,864 vehicles, an increase of 35.1% over 2003.
It also imports the built-up Pajero [Shogun/Montero] Full and Sport and Airtrek (Outlander) SUVs, the Lancer sedan and the Grandis minivan.
The Mitsubishi operation in Brazil is a local investment that holds a transfer technology agreement with the Japanese automaker. Mitsubishi Japan initially prohibited MMC Automotores from exporting Brazilian-made vehicles, but allowed shipments to Mercosur countries from the end of 2002.
This year it plans to start regular exports to Argentina and is seeking permission to sell vehicles in other Latin America countries, including Mexico.
Rogério Louro
