Another era is heading for closure as Mitsubishi intends stopping production of the Pajero from next year as part of revised mid-term three-year business strategy plan.

The mid-term plan announced recently in Japan focuses on cost rationalisation and profitability enhancement towards a solid management foundation aiming at sustainable growth after a three-year period.

Based on structural reforms, the ‘Small but Beautiful’ plan is aimed at significantly reducing fixed costs by production capacity optimisation, a new regional strategy as well as improved product/technology strategies.

“We will shift our strategy from all-round expansion to selection and concentration,” says Takao Kato, representative executive officer and chief executive officer of MMC. “First of all, we will complete our structural reform and further strengthen our competitive areas, ultimately to build a corporate structure that can surely generate profits during this mid-term period.”

The main actions of this plan include developing businesses in Africa, Oceania and South America as the second pillar following a focus on ASEAN management resources, as well as strengthening eco-friendly new models by 2022.

“Market conditions are tough for everyone, but Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) has a strong foothold with a strong following,” says Nic Campbell, General Manager of MMSA

“On local soil we are running a successful zero deposit campaign on various models, which is extremely popular, and we will continue with offers that are attractive to customers during these conditions.”

MMSA recently announced some new models coming to the region in the next two years such as the Xpander and the Mirage, and will finalise the list as soon as more details are available.

For South Africa, the Pajero remains a popular model and will continue to be ordered until production finally ends.