Mitsubishi Motors looks to up auto sales in Russia 65% in 2011
MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set 75,000 automobiles as its sales target for Russia this year, which would be a 65% increase over last year, General Director at the company's exclusive distributor Rolf Import LLC Andrei Pankov said.
"We plan to sell about 75,000 automobiles," Pankov told the press, including 9,000 vehicles assembled in Russia. The company sold 45,500 vehicles in the country in 2010.
Mitsubishi plans to bring a new Lancer model to market, among other vehicles. The company ceased selling Galants, Grandis, Colts, and the previous model Lancer last year.
As to the Russian market for new foreign makes, Pankov said he expects growth of 25% to 1.5 million vehicles this year from last year's 1.2 million. Significant model-line rejuvenation was the driver for 2010's 10% increase in sales in Russia, he said.
Rolf Import is currently 40% owned by Mitsubishi, which acquired the stake in September of 2009.
