Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko confesses that he was overwhelmed by the vibrant atmosphere when he visited the Beijing Motor Show last month.
"I was surprised when I visited the Beijing Motor Show, and honestly speaking, I came back to Japan in a state of shock. Their vibe and zeal were totally different from ours in Japan," Masuko said upon returning from China, whose burgeoning auto market has overtaken that of the United States.
Masuko also praised the attitude of local sales clerks at auto dealerships in China, saying, "Wherever I went, they told me to offer more of our cars because they said our cars sell so well. Sales clerks were so upbeat and positive."
"It was an experience that I haven't felt of late in Japan," he added, apparently showing concern for Japan's auto market that has reached beyond its maturity.
In China, where the number of new car sales topped 13 million units in 2009 and is expected to rise in 2010, Mitsubishi Motors is going to launch the ASX compact sport-utility vehicle (or the "RVR" in Japan) while planning to release the iMiEV electric vehicle.
"Success in China is the key for our growth strategy," Masuko said, suggesting an intention to accelerate the company's business expansion in China.
