Mitsubishi cars will stop being sold in the UK and Europe

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Importers Colt Cars, of Cirencester, Glos. has written to over 100 UK franchise dealers saying the news was unexpected from Japan and meant no new generation models would be coming through the system but they can sell current models.

Colt Cars is working to ensure as many retailers as possible are retained to support customers with parts and servicing but the first of the new models, the Eclipse Cross PHEV and forthcoming Outlander PHEV will not be coming to the UK.

The Gloucestershire based importer, which has about 250 people in its HQ and related businesses, introduced Mitsubishi to UK buyers 45 years ago is now actively seeking a new brand to bring into the country in much the same way as it worked with Mitsubishi nearly half a century ago.

Mitsubishi is part of the Renault and Nissan Alliance which has recently announced its intention to cut costs and refocus its brands around the world.

It’s latest quarterly finance report to stock markets showed it lost over £1.3 Billion overall and its operations took a hit of £393.6 Million compared to a profit 12 months ago of £28.5 Million.

It has just announced its “Small but Beautiful” three-year business plan to concentrate on core regions and technologies.

In that it will share models and technology from Renault-Nissan and concentrate on low carbon vehicles with particular emphasis in Far East and then Africa and South America where its 4×4 experience will be its strength.

In the first six months of 2020, half of which was affected by the closure of dealerships due to Coronavirus regulations, Mitsubishi recorded 4,708 registrations, 51.88% below H1 2019.
Last year Mitsubishi recorded under 16,200 registrations in the UK, a drop of over 23% on the 2018 total and the second steepest decline of a mainstream importer.

Also today and another move to St Athan:

A company which has styled Ferrari cars and some of the world’s most iconic automobiles has been commissioned to build the Britishvolt battery gigaplant at St Athan.

Pininfarina has more than 90 years at the forefront of innovative automotive design, and more recently an expansion into the field of architecture. People who have seen the architects impressions say it is going to be a striking tall building surrounded by three other units and when completed in 2022/23 it will cost £1.2Billion and gradually build up to 3,000 jobs.

After decades of working with top brands such as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Peugeot – including a renovation of the Eurostar fleet operating between London and Paris – Pininfarina has an unrivalled heritage in the transport and automotive sectors. Its world-famous, revolutionary designs will ensure that Britishvolt’s gigaplant is both fit for purpose, and an elegant representation of the future of the UK’s automotive industry.

As an Italian studio working globally, the firm prides itself on always incorporating local culture and community needs within the creation of its spaces, to ensure the maximum positive impact on mental and physical well-being – with sustainability at the top of the agenda. Pininfarina has always been at the forefront of electric mobility, beginning in 1978 with the Ecos automotive prototype. While creating new paradigms of eco-sustainable, and zero emission mobility, the Turin-based design house is still fully committed to a significant number of electric propulsion solutions in various segments of the mobility ecosystem. The priority for Britishvolt was to partner with a company with expertise in this field, that could design a facility that is both sensitive to its surroundings, as well as open and welcoming to the local residents. Robin Roberts Miles Better News Agency 

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