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Mitsubishi's sales in China up 106%

The Japanese partner of Daimler-Chrysler, Mitsubishi Motors, has more than doubled its unit sales in China in the past year, the automobile company announced yesterday in Tokyo.

The automaker sold 145,235 vehicles in China during the 2003 calendar year, a 106 percent surge from 2002.

Leading the growth was the Sigma subcompact (Dingo in Japan), sales of which soared 185 percent on year to 20,339 units. The Liebao (Pajero) sport utility vehicle (SUV) sold 29,536 units for an 89 percent jump in sales on 2002, the company said.

Other vehicles showing year-on-year growth include the Freeca SUV -- otherwise know as the company's Asia Car -- up 10 percent to 19,644 units, and the Delica van with 30,392 units, an increase of 3 percent.

On top of increasing sales of existing models, Mitsubishi Motors also expanded its product offerings in China in 2003 with two new models: the Lioncel sedan and Pajero Sport, which sold 33,647 and 5,804 units respectively. The Mitsubishi-badged Pajero SUV -- a Japanese export since December 2002 -- sold 5,622 units for the year.

The product offensive continues into this year with the introduction of the Outlander crossover SUV, which hit showrooms this month, and the start of Grandis minivan exports from Japan later in the year, the automaker said.
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