STRONG demand in four Southeast Asian markets has led to Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) increasing production of its Xpander compact MPV, the car maker said in a statement.
The Xpander, presently sold in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, is built at a new manufacturing facility in Bekasi, Indonesia. Exports of the model began in April.
MMC said it originally planned to produce 100,000 Xpanders this year. But a stronger-than-expected demand for the model sees production figures rise to 120,000 units. It added Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia, which operates the Bekasi plant, has already invested in additional welding and assembly facilities to increase the manufacturing capacity of the Xpander to 10,000 vehicles per month.
MMC added the move seeks to “ensure waiting times are managed,” and that a further boost in production is “being investigated.” It also said its Indonesia plant is aiming to build 150,000 Xpanders in 2019.
From August 2017 to June this year 80,000 orders for the Xpander have been received in Indonesia alone, according to MMC.
“I am very pleased that customers in Indonesia and other ASEAN markets have enthusiastically accepted the Xpander. We will continue to devote our efforts to deliver this exciting car as quickly as possible to more customers,” said MMC chief executive Osamu Masuko.
In a presentation made during the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2017, MMC said the Xpander will also be sold in Sri Lanka, Bolivia and Egypt. At the time the car maker estimated Indonesia would account for around 70% of the model’s yearly output, followed by the Philippines with an estimated 20% share. Thailand was seen as the Xpander’s third-biggest market.
