Mitsubishi will build the Outlander Sport crossover (RVR in Japan, ASX in Europe) will at its US plant in Normal, Illinois, from mid-2012.
The Outlander Sport, imported from Japan, went on sale in North America in November 2010.
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The vehicle is on the same flexible platform as the Lancer and Outlander SUV which are sold globally.
Mitsubishi Motors North America president Shinichi Kurihara said: “With the new model, the plant will have better utilisation, and, of course we will see improved efficiency when we eventually consolidate to one model with higher production volume. I fully expect this plant will strongly improve its performance further down the road.
“Mitsubishi Motors remains fully committed to producing vehicles in Normal. We will build vehicles here not just for the United States, but for many nations around the world.” Kurihara estimated that about half of the Outlanders produced will be exported.
Kurihara also expressed appreciation to the state of Illinois for approximately US$29m in EDGE grant support over the next 10 years.
MMNA is the only Asian or European auto manufacturer to recognise the UAW and about 1,000 of MMNA’s 1,300 employees are members.
