JAKARTA — Mitsubishi Motors is facing a tough business environment in Indonesia and Thailand but is enjoying robust sales in regional peers Vietnam and the Philippines, according to President and CEO Takao Kato, detailing experiences that reflect the nations’ contrasting economic fortunes and the impact of tougher competition from Chinese rivals.
“ASEAN is Mitsubishi Motors’ most important market,” Kato told Nikkei Asia during an interview in Jakarta on the sidelines of a new vehicle launch on Thursday, adding that the region accounted for 30% of the company’s car sales last year. “[We] will concentrate our management resources [in the region].”
