Mitsubishi post best sales month in three years

Despite a lackluster economy, Mitsubishi of North America reported a 97.7 percent increase in sales over June of last year.

Mitsubishi’s sport utilities drove the automaker’s nearly-doubled June sales to 8,299 vehicles selling from nearly 400 dealerships, up from 4,198 in June of last year. The company hasn’t reached the 8,000 mark since August 2008.

The increase in June continues the company’s sales momentum for the year so far, and with that surge in sales, Mitsubishi claimed to be the fastest growing automaker in the U.S.

"We are pleased that Mitsubishi's message of styling, fuel efficiency and value are resonating with customers," said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa. "We feel that we are just at the beginning of an extended period of growth in the U.S. market."

Sales of the Endeavor SUV soared to 1,817 from just 114 a year ago, and the company’s sales have also been driven have been driven by the introduction of the fuel-efficient Outlander Sport small CUV, which seats up to seven, comes with a long warrantee, and boasts a fuel-efficient power train. Dealers delivered 1,293 of them in June.

Sales of the Outlander Sport, and its big brother, the Outlander, soared 260 percent in June and are up 119 percent year-to-date.

The two utility vehicles were featured in the recent "World's Most Dangerous Road" advertising campaign, which highlighted the “world's most advanced All Wheel Control system.” This month, Mitsubishi's "Own Every Road" summer sales event will expand on that theme.

"Adding to the excitement for our company and our dealers is the fact that we're also only a few months away from the American sales launch of our all-new, all-electric Mitsubishi 'i'," said Yokozawa. "We'll begin digital advertising for the 'i' this month."

June sales marked the 10th consecutive month that the Mitsubishi has achieved a year-over-year sales increase. Year-to date sales are up 66.5 percent.

Mitsubishi car sales were up 41 percent in June and are up 43 percent year-to-date, with the Eclipse coupe selling 1,602 cars, up from 312 sold in June of last year. Sales of products assembled at Mitsubishi's U.S. facility in Normal, Illinois, climbed 243 percent in June and are up 116 percent year to date.

Mitsubishi sales perhaps benefitted from supply issues experienced by Japanese automakers hurt by the earthquake in Japan.