Gasgoo.com (Shanghai February 15) - South East Motors, more commonly known as Soueast, has recently set a preliminary sales target of 150,000 vehicles for 2011, Beijing Business Today reported today.
The Fujian-based manufacturer, which sells both self-branded and Mitsubishi-branded automobiles, sold over 120,000 vehicles last year, an increase of 41% from 2009. As the company looks to break this personal best this year, it needs to confront its chronic production problems. Company president Zuo Zisheng stated that Soueast will "expand production lines, replace and advance technology, improve service and innovate marketing techniques" in order to surpass this new target.
Opening new bases...
The manufacturer has already registered its plan to expand its Sanqi production complex with the Fujian Development and Reform Commission, sources within the company confirmed. The site will contain automobile welding, coating, finishing (pictured above) and stamping areas, as well as boast over 840 state-of-the-art production and testing installations and over 100 full automobile body molds. The Sanqi production site is expected to have a yearly production capability of 300,000 vehicles after completion, with hopes that that figure could go as high as 500,000.
... and exploring new segments
Currently Soueast uses the 'V' label to designate its sedan series and the 'C' label for commercial vehicles. The manufacturer will be looking to further develop that lineup by adding the Mitsubishi Zinger SUV and Mitsubishi Galant mid-high class sedan.
Soueast is also catching on to the new energy vehicle craze catching fire throughout the country. The manufacturer will reportedly begin testing a pure electric version of the Mitsubishi Delica (pictured below), its first full green energy vehicle. The zero-emission Delica will support a simple home-use battery recharging method in order to decrease costs.
