Mitsubishi to shut Australia plant

Prospector said:

But if people don't (want to) buy the product, why persist in making it?

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Prospector, I respect you but I don't understand the link your making between what you quoted me on and your comment in reply to that?
I never said that I disagree with your line of thought however what I will say is there are all types of horses for all types of courses, but until one is tried out then you don't really know its potential in the market, true?. There are lots and lots of cars that have been built that are not appealing but this is just part of the game, you win some you lose some. Some people will love a certain car, some will hate it.
My point is that you cant just say that they should build cars that people want to drive. That is very simplistic, the world is more diverse than that.

One of my favorite cars ever is the Bugatti Veyron, I love its looks (some hate it), I love its speed and 1001hp of power (some don't see the point), I love the crazy factor of a W16 with 4 turbos bolted onto it, the several radiators, the hydraulic wing, the fat wheels that will disintegrate after 25 odd minutes of driving at top speed (407kmh) and the fact that you couldn't get to that point simply because the petrol would run out after about 12 minutes anyway...... and some people just don't understand why I love all these aspects of what is 'just a car'. I just do.... and I sure am glad that someone will build one for me to see even if I would never be able to buy one because of its couple of million dollar Price tag and limited supply.

Now I understand that this example is a bit off track but the point I'm trying to make is that (due to the diversity of people in the world) there is room for all types, no matter where the market is, what the price range might be or where it is built. Of course these factors will always influence a persons decision when buying a car so like I said, you can't simply say make a car that people want to drive.

Cheers

aleckara said:

I actually like the 380. I think it is better styled than it's local competition anyway.

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I think this demonstrates the point I was just trying to make, horses for courses.

aleckara, I also agree totally with your other comments.

cheers

This would be my first posting on ASF, but having been an employee of MRDAus (Mitsubishi Research & Development Australia) approx 2 1/2 years ago here in Adelaide I thought I would contribute my bit to this topic.

The closedown was/is inevitable as of approx 3 1/2 years ago, as I am sure most of you would know you can't just close down a company of this size one one go over a couple of months, Adelaide and associated companies would have a massive meltdown. It was pretty much common knowledge on the inside that the initial 'downsizing' 3 years ago was just the beginning to allow the state to adjust with the final closure being carried out over 2-3 years.

It was a fantastic place to work and is a massive plant which I can't imagine anything else ever being there but it will happen, housing development is bound to take over but the ground/land would be quite toxic and will require more than bucket loads of money to clean up and convert.

Sadly the majority of Australia is and will be for some time yet Ford and Holden dominated and underdogs will be always playing catchup.

I did hear at one stage Mitsub Aust is less than one percent of "The Mitsubishi Corporation" so losing the SA plant barely scratches the surface of this giant and honestly doesn't return enough to Japan to justify its existance.

I could rave some more but that was my bit.

Some interesting car stuff and opinion on this thread but the real issue is the imminent closure of Mitsubishi operations and I can only sympathise with the many people who's lives and families along with their hopes and aspirations this closure effects.

If we applied the same logic and analysis to car ownership as we do to shares I wonder how many of us would still own one ?
A depreciating liability with disproportionate costs of ownership ($1000 service for an Astra !? give me a break !!)
Why do I find myself eyeing off a new VW Passat with the lot.?

Prospector said:

But if people don't (want to) buy the product, why persist in making it?

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Exactly. Lots of vehicles they could have manufactured there but they chose to make something that not many wanted to buy. I don't doubt that the quality etc is probably quite decent, but it didn't appeal to the buyers and in business that's ultimately all that matters.

Ford are in a similar situation IMO. Witness the engine plant closure etc.

Just wait for the ultra cheap imports from China etc. It will happen sooner or later and wipe out anyone not selling their product on the basis of quality and or style since they'll have no chance of competing on price.

Ford comes to mind as being in immediate danger there - Commodores, various Jap cars etc have a bit of street appeal to some and Toyota and the European makes are well known for quality. Ford struggles with both and their after sales service for warranty work is truly shocking.

Lets just be honest, Its just another effect of Globilisation, Its profit driven.

Just like the US had most its manufactoring base sold out , the Multi nationals will do the same here.

As Mitsibishi said theyll open a production plant in either China or Russia.

When will it end ? Maybe when the entire planet is on similar wages or Governments start getting all Nationalistic on us, who knows

For the record I have a 380SX , I like the Car, drives well, safe, economical enough, well priced, cant complain.

aleckara said:

I actually like the 380. I think it is better styled than it's local competition anyway. But it is hard to compete in a V6 culture that really only has enough room for Ford and Holden, with Toyota appealing to the buyer not fussed by either (a conservative buyer normally who wouldn't try other brands). The 380 to me is between these two extremes and is priced well just doesn't have a market.

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Isn't the 380 also a front wheel drive, works ok on small cars but not if you are trying to mix it with the above.

Ford and Holden so called 'muscle cars' are s**thouse

1. they are usually owned by rev-head westie d**kheads

2. they look like they have been styled by an idiot

3. they are way overpriced - interior is pathetic


European cars all the way!!!!!!!

The Mint Man said:

but I don't understand the link your making between what you quoted me on and your comment in reply to that?

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Okey dokey - it sounded like you were saying that 'out of the blue' people were emerging from the woodwork as instant experts and were saying that the 380 was a dud, whereas the day it was released, after all the fanfare etc, people looked at it and said, 'who needs another car like that, it won't save them!' - so the die was cast many moons ago. Crikeys, even the name was a dud!

So while I am no expert in cars and those things that go under the bonnet,: I do know what I and my peer group, might buy. And this aint it! Not even Government contracts could save it.

Mitsubishi built this car for a mass market; people have to buy it for the car to succeed. It is a utility car, not a dream driving experience car. People will not post on forums like this saying 'Oh, I must drive a 380 before I die ' (unlike your dream of the Bugatti) but if they have to buy a car for their purposes, and not for their dreams (because this is the kind of the car they have to drive when shuttling the family etc) well, look at the decision making process that goes into that purchase and build a car accordingly. No-one is going to buy a 6 cylinder car like this, when a 4 cylinder can do the same job, without the petrol expense. So where was their market edge? It doesnt look fabulous, it looks like all of the other similar cars, but has a guzzler engine. Who did they actually think would buy it? Diversity is kind of irrelevant when you are building for a mass market, and the company will not let you export it. (Heard on the radio that a contract was organised for overseas to export the 380 but the management wouldnt let it happen because it impacted on another bigger contract!)

The Lancer, as I said, is really sweet! But not made here. But I might look at this one for my next purchase.

Surely if they had done one iota of market research before designing this one, they would have found out that a car of this type was not what the market wanted.

imajica said:

Ford and Holden so called 'muscle cars' are s**thouse

1. they are usually owned by rev-head westie d**kheads

2. they look like they have been styled by an idiot

3. they are way overpriced - interior is pathetic


European cars all the way!!!!!!!

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I wouldn't be at all surprised if GMH and Ford's Australian divisions come under pressure themselves as a result of the increasingly gloomy economic outlook. Importers of Euro trash might also start dropping by the wayside.

Oh, but wait! Lots of "experts" keep telling us the Lil Ozzy Bleeder Economy is as fit as a fiddle - world beaters we are! Not to worry then?


Chiz,


AJ