Bangkok--17 Jul--Mitsubishi Motors
- Japan next market to be invaded by the global strategic vehicle -
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announces that Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh)*1 today held a ceremony to celebrate the first shipment of the Mirage new global compact car to Japan. Attended by the Thai Minister of Industry and other guests, the ceremony was held at Laem Chabang Port, adjacent to MMTh’s Laem Chabang Plant.
*1: MMC’s exclusive producer and distributor in Thailand.
Ensuring Japan-level Quality in Thailand
MMC is doing everything possible to ensure that the new Mirage delivers the highest levels of quality. As at other MMC factories worldwide, MMTh’s Laem Chabang Plant has adopted the Mitsubishi Motors Production Way (MMPW) global quality assurance framework. Guaranteeing the highest levels of build and finish quality, MMPW operates through the concept of “stage completion” which requires cars to meet stringent quality standards at one work station before being allowed to pass to the next station. In addition, prior to the start of the new Mirage production, MMC has stationed Japanese inspection experts at the MMTh’s plant to inspect 100% of the vehicles before they are shipped as well as train local Thai inspectors.
Even High Quality Needs a Double Check
The new Mirage will be shipped from the Laem Chabang Port to the port of Nagoya in Japan. Each Thai-built Mirage leaves Laem Chabang having already passed the same rigorous pre-shipment inspection as vehicles produced at MMC factories in Japan. However, in MMC’s painstaking efforts to ensure quality, the Mirages are inspected yet again at a newly established facility at the Nagoya port as a double- or triple-check. Once the vehicles pass the extra inspection, each Mirage will be issued with a final approval certificate and shipped to MMC dealerships throughout Japan.
With Global Distribution Comes Global-level Production Volume
Shipments of the new Mirage from Thailand to Japan begin today and the new model is due to go on sale in Japan at the end of August. MMTh’s Laem Chabang Plant is the largest MMC plant and export hub outside Japan in its global production network. The new Mirage is being built at a brand-new third factory at the Laem Chabang Plant, which was specifically designated for the production of the new model. Production of the new Mirage for the Thai-market began in March and production of the ASEAN-market version began in June of this year. Cumulative production of the new Mirage at the end of June had reached 11,000 units. Following its launch in Japan, MMC plans to expand introduction of the new Mirage to other markets starting with Europe, Australia and North America, with production volume for the 2012 fiscal year expected to reach 120,000 units. Production capacity at the new third factory in Thailand is currently 150,000 units per year, but is capable of being expanded to 200,000 units per year.