TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Mitsubishi Motors Vice President Nakamura Tatsuo said the company will boost its partnership with Taiwan’s China Motor Corp. to strengthen the production and sales of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Nakamura made the remarks at the Taipei New Car & New Energy Vehicle Show, a biennial event held at the Taipei World Trade Center. The five-day expo, running through Sunday, brings together about 100 exhibitors worldwide showcasing vehicles equipped with smart driving and connected car technologies. The event also features automotive components, charging stations, recreational vehicles, and cold-chain logistics vehicles.
China Motor, Mitsubishi Motors’ distributor in Taiwan and a local manufacturer of some of its models, unveiled Mitsubishi Motors’ new Xforce model on Tuesday, per CNA. The vehicle is expected to record sales of 9,000 units in Taiwan next year. It has sold 62,000 units worldwide and features advanced driver safety systems, a larger smart instrument cluster and display, as well as expanded seating and cargo space.
Nakamura said Mitsubishi studied Taiwan’s road conditions, climate, and consumer preferences before introducing the Xforce. In collaboration with China Motor, the company made functional adjustments to ensure the model meets local driving needs.
Since May, Foxtron Vehicle Technologies has partnered with Mitsubishi Motors to provide design and manufacturing management services for EV production through March 2032. The partnership focuses on models for right-hand-drive markets and will supply cars to Mitsubishi Motors in New Zealand and Australia.
China Motor President Tseng Hsin-cheng (曾鑫城) said Taiwan is expected to sell about 410,000 new vehicles this year, with sales likely rising to 420,000 next year. He added that a government car replacement program, offering a NT$50,000 (US$1,590) tax break for buyers who scrap an old vehicle and purchase a new one within six months, will support the auto market.
China Motor reported November revenue of NT$2.7 billion, up 22.4% year-on-year, while revenue for the first 11 months fell 20.9% to NT$29.13 billion. Sales were weighed down this year by commodity taxes and US tariffs, but government programs offering tax reductions for new car purchases have boosted demand for passenger vehicles.
