The Brazilian subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) will invest 800 million reais ($454 million) in the next five years to build its four-wheel-drive Pajero Dakar jeep and Lancer sedan, it said on Wednesday.
The automaker, which has a factory in the central state of Goias, aims to double productive capacity to 100,000 vehicles with the investment that will pay for a major expansion of its plant.
The firm will begin local production of its Pajero Dakar all wheel drive and a platform will be installed to build the Lancer, expanding the company's locally-produced range beyond four-wheel drives.
Under the terms of the Brazilian subsidiary's contract with its Japanese headquarters, it will also have the option of producing electric cars. Mitsubishi has begun producing its i-Miev electric hatchback in Japan in small numbers for testing prior to its commercial launch.
Around 1,000 more workers will be recruited in Brazil as part of the expansion, taking staff numbers to around 4,000, Mitsubishi said in a statement.
