Canadian Press article about Mirage, last sub $20k new car

[Mark]

Only if they have cars to sell!

I agree, but why is that?

Is everything being driven by profit margin?

SUVs probably yield bigger profits so more resources are directed there?

If dealers had pre-COVID inventory, would the sales numbers sky rocket?

Sales numbers are tanking.

Is Mitsubishi allowing that to happen, or are they ensuring that happens?

The average vehicle age in the States has climbed to 12.5 years.

[Top_Fuel]

Only if they have cars to sell!

These are the numbers I'd like to see:

• How many Mirages have been produced each year for the last 4-5 years?
• How many Mirages were shipped to North America each year for the last 4-5 years?

I'm assuming total Mirage production is way down...as is the number of Mirages being shipped to North America. The question is...why?

[Mark]

These are the numbers I'd like to see:

• How many Mirages have been produced each year for the last 4-5 years?
• How many Mirages were shipped to North America each year for the last 4-5 years?

I'm assuming total Mirage production is way down...as is the number of Mirages being shipped to North America. The question is...why?

I don't have the real answer, and I have all sorts of questions related to all this.

I sense Mitsubishi lacks good leadership with a good vision for the company, & they lost some of their identity because of that (becoming part of the Alliance).

Mitsubishi would have been the perfect niche company. Making vehicles others are currently overlooking. Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Expo, Expo LRV, & Delica would have almost zero competition. I think some would take note & be inspired by that type of company. Instead they design another SUV that has to be wedged between their two other SUVs, & that's it?

Mitsubishi was a company with real potential! I have to believe the company is being run by a bunch of morons, but that's just my take.

We could blame the FBI, CIA, DOJ, & my aunt Martha, but I don't have an aunt Martha!

Mirages should be selling like hotcakes this year, & it's not happening. Someone is to blame!

Something fun & different can revive a company! I think the Soul did that for Kia years ago! Those who would have never considered a Kia started visiting showrooms, because it was a bit unique & not found anywhere else.

I think the original Forester helped revive Subaru!

The Dodge minivan was a huge success at the beginning.

[7milesout]

I agree, but why is that?

Is everything being driven by profit margin?

SUVs probably yield bigger profits so more resources are directed there?

If dealers had pre-COVID inventory, would the sales numbers sky rocket?

Sales numbers are tanking.

Is Mitsubishi allowing that to happen, or are they ensuring that happens?

The average vehicle age in the States has climbed to 12.5 years.

OK, having been directly in that industry makes me an EXPERT!

But really though, I jest, I'm not an expert at all. But I'll add my $0.02 worth.

I would guess that in fact, YES, it is being driven by profit margin. And therefor the Mirage is likely taking a backseat to everything else they have going on. For some reason in my mind I was thinking the Thailand plant making the Mirage ONLY makes the Mirage. (Does anyone know different?) If they ONLY make the Mirage, this gets even murkier. If they only make the Mirage at that plant, maybe they are selling the Mirage in a location that nets them higher profits. Whether it is because it is less expensive to get them to market, or the buyers pay greater prices for them. I would think only Europe & Australia would be able to pay higher prices ... so I don't know. You guys probably have the numbers for that too, and may not that's not happening either. But if there is another car produced at that same plant, perhaps it is being produced much more than the Mirage.

In any event, Mitsubishi is either missing, or about to be missing an opportunity here with the Mirage. For one thing, they need to be all over the TV with commercials screaming loud about the price, warranty, efficiency & green benefits, while within the same commercial tamping down the more negative aspects of the car. It is a much better car than all the hate it receives.

Are they allowing that to happen? Absolutely, either directly or indirectly.

Mark, you asked if they were morons. Having worked in that field, I would say that the average I.Q. in the actual engineering departments are overall higher than average. But morons still fake their way in, primarily in the "Liquor & Golf" Department (Sales & Marketing). And yes, those morons simply F things up. I.E. the moron hipster doofus girl that faked her way into the Bud Light position. Anyone can stay in school and get one degree after another. That doesn't make them intelligent ... it only proves they can either pay tuition or take on financial aid debt. If given too much power, morons do or allow moronic things to happen. Toyota was first class about morons. They wouldn't necessarily just fire them. Even the morons have gained experience at Toyota (and Toyota values that gain in experience) and some morons can be improved. But when the Toyota moron sensor was triggered, Toyota would at minimal, move them to some position where they could do less or no damage. And give them a chance. If that didn't work, they'd escort them to the front door and tell them to go away. Seen it, witnessed it.