Mitsubishi’s Normal, Illinois, assembly plant will begin production of the automaker’s newest model, the Outlander Sport, beginning in mid-2012, the company announced today.
The decision marks the first move in Mitsubishi’s ultimate plan to end production of all four models it currently builds at the Normal plant over the next several years. The automaker has also said it intends to utilize the Illinois plant for export production of various models.
Mitsubishi representatives and Illinois governor Pat Quinn gathered at the Central Illinois plant to make the announcement earlier today.
“With the new model, the plant will have better utilization, and, of course we will see improved efficiency when we eventually consolidate to one model with higher production volume,” said Mitsubishi Motors North America President Shinichi Kurihara in a statement released to the media.. “I fully expect this plant will strongly improve its performance further down the road.”
The automaker says that it will continue building Outlander Sports in Japan for global markets. About half of the Outlander Sports built in Normal will be destined for markets outside of the U.S.
The plant is the only UAW-represented facility in North America to build exclusively foreign-badge cars.
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