Mitsubishi Motors CEO Kato shows the idea of ​​rebuilding in Southeast Asia

 Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

三菱自動車 加藤CEO 東南アジア軸に立て直し図る考え示す

2020年8月4日 2時04分

今年度3600億円の最終赤字が見込まれている三菱自動車工業の加藤隆雄ＣＥＯ＝最高経営責任者がＮＨＫのインタビューに応じ、来年1月からタイでプラグインハイブリッド車の生産を開始するなど、強みのある東南アジアを軸にして立て直しを図る考えを示しました。

この中で加藤ＣＥＯは、まず看板車種だった四輪駆動車パジェロの生産をやめることについて、「会社を有名にした車だが、環境意識の高まりの中で排気ガスの多い車の販売が難しくなった。四輪駆動などの技術は今後の新型車の開発に生かしていく」と述べました。

そのうえで、「ＡＳＥＡＮでも環境意識の高まりが徐々に進んでいく。電動化を進めることは大事で、来年1月からタイでＰＨＥＶ＝プラグインハイブリッド車の生産を立ち上げる」と明らかにし、日産やルノーとの連合のなかで、三菱が強みを持つ東南アジアに経営資源を集中し、立て直しを図る考えを示しました。

一方、加藤ＣＥＯは、新型コロナウイルスを受けた「新しい日常」の定着に向けて、本社に勤務する社員の30％を原則として在宅勤務とし、今年度中にもオフィスの面積をおよそ20％削減する計画を明らかにしました。

 Translation

With a final deficit of 360 billion yen this year, Takao Kato of Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd. CEO = Chief Executive Officer, in response to NHK's interview, showed the idea of ​​ starting production of plug-in hybrid vehicles in Thailand starting from January next year with the aim to rebuild its axis around Southeast Asia that was full of  strength.

Among them, CEO Kato first would stop producing the four-wheel drive car Pajero which was a signboard model; he said that “It is a car that made the company famous, but it becomes difficult to sell cars with a lot of exhaust gas due to increasing environmental awareness. We will apply technologies such as four-wheel drive to the development of new models in the future."

On top of that, it was made clear that " even in ASEAN, environmental awareness is gradually increasing. It is important to promote electrification, and we will start the production of PHEV = plug-in hybrid vehicles in Thailand from January next year" ; amidst the teaming up of Nissan and Renault Mitsubishi,  Mitsubishi had shown the idea of  rebuilding itself by concentrating its management resources in Southeast Asia where it had the strengths.

On the other hand, Kato was working toward the establishment of a "new daily life", and in principle 30% of the employees would work from home, and had revealed a plan to reduce the office area by approximately 20% during this year.

              So, Mitsubishi Motors Company for survival will strengthen its operation in South-east Asia.