Mitsubishi eyes car production in Myanmar
Automaker focuses on ASEAN while scaling back Europe operations
Traffic is seen behind a pedestrian bridge in downtown Yangon. Mitsubishi Motors is leaning toward assembling cars in Myanmar as part of its Southeast Asia strategy. © Reuters
KOSUKE TERAI, Nikkei staff writerAugust 4, 2020 05:24 JST
TOKYO --
Mitsubishi Motors is considering building vehicles in Myanmar, as the Japanese automaker deepens its commitment to Southeast Asia, CEO Takao Kato told Nikkei, charting a way forward in a market battered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Kato said his company hopes to "collaborate" with
Mitsubishi Corp., the trading house that owns a 20% stake in the automaker and is well-versed in the local market. Details, such as the timing and the form of the business, have yet to be decided.
CEO Takao Kato tells Nikkei that the automaker hopes to collaborate with trading house Mitsubishi on establishing production in Myanmar. (Photo by Kosuke Terai)
Mitsubishi Motors reversed its drive for broader expansion to focus instead on the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations under a medium-term plan released late last month. The automaker will allocate resources to the region, which generates about one-quarter of the company's sales.
Another one is coming. Subaru will also set up assembly plant.