Mitsubishi Motors is to cut production and jobs in the United States, according to a Friday newspaper report.


The Nikkei business daily [whose reports are often accurate and about a day ahead of companies’ official announcements] said Mitsubishi would reduce US output by about 10% and cut 5% of jobs to cope with weakening demand, according to Reuters.


Output at the automaker’s factory in Normal, Illinois, will be cut to about 69,000 vehicles this business year ending March 2009 from 75,500 a year earlier, the Nikkei said.


The 110,000-unit plant makes models such as the Galant sedan and Endeavor sports utility vehicle and the automaker plans to have 105 employees sign up for early retirement, the newspaper said, according to Reuters.