According to foreign speculation, Mitsubishi is preparing to end the import of SUV models to European markets in September this year. Thanks to an interview with the Czech representative of the brand, however, we know that the situation is significantly less dramatic.
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Mitsubishi recently announced that it will stop launching new models on European markets. As part of austerity measures, it decided to focus on its profitable markets, which are located mainly in Southeast Asia.
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But it certainly did not mean that sales of current Mitsubishi models in Europe should end completely. “Sales of current models continue without restriction, as long as they comply with EU emissions regulations,“Said Marek Vodička from the Czech Mitsubishi office at the end of last month.
So we all expected a gradual dampening of the brand’s activities in European markets, but things should have taken a much faster turn.
According to information from the AutoNews Europe website, which refers to its anonymous source with close links to the carmaker, Mitsubishi is going to stop deliveries of three popular SUVs to European markets within the next month. So in September.
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Specifically, the Outlander, ASX and Eclipse Cross models, which together accounted for 64% of the total of 53,242 Mitsubishi cars sold on the European market during the first half of this year. In addition, the Outlander plug-in hybrid often boasted the label of one of the most popular and best-selling plug-in hybrids in Europe.
An anonymous source also told AutoNews that imports of the compact city hatchback Space Star (referred to as the Mirage in some markets) should continue, along with imports of the L200 pickup, until the end of next year. So far, this is only speculation, but according to AutoNews, it has provoked stormy reactions among European dealers.
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Cutting off Mitsubishi’s European offer of three SUVs could have caused European dealers some trouble. “We won’t have a business without an SUV. Dealerships cannot survive on a small car and L200,Said a source for AutoNews Europe.
The reason for the end of deliveries of Mitsubishi cars to European markets should be the fact that they will no longer meet stricter emission standards and the carmaker is not interested in further modernizing them or paying fines for them. That is a reason that has already deprived Europe of countless interesting cars.
We asked for a statement from the Czech Mitsubishi office, according to which the AutoNews website provides at least one (rather substantial) incorrect information.
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„The production of individual models – we emphasize production, not deliveries, as the source erroneously states, will be gradually terminated in connection with the fulfillment of emission limits. It is a long-awaited procedure and the dealer network in the Czech Republic and Slovakia of course has this information available and works with them when planning orders and sales to customers,“Said Marek Vodička from the Czech representation of the brand.
According to him, there can be no such passionate reactions as the Autonews.com website states. At the same time, Vodička adds that the Czech Mitsubishi office will have sufficient stocks to satisfy current and future customer requirements.
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According to our information, the production of SUV models for European markets will actually be phased out this year, but their deliveries will continue for several more months. Including next year.
In addition, the dealership has long counted on the upcoming situation and has taken it into account when accepting orders and creating inventory. Customers certainly do not have to worry about cars disappearing from warehouses within a few weeks or months.
However, after the SUV stocks are sold out, Mitsubishi’s European dealership will actually be limited to two models, the Space Star and L200. However, we are already talking about the late period of next year. And until then, much can happen or change.
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