Mitsubishi Philippines scales down production

THE Philippines’ second-biggest auto assembler will cut its production by about two-fifths this month because of the lack of important vehicle parts from Japan.

An official of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) told this reporter that they will implement a three-day workweek throughout the month of May starting today.

The company’s plant in Cainta, Rizal had been operating five days a week with a single shift daily, although operations were suspended during the last two weeks, the official said.

MMPC had only a limited number of completely knocked down (CKD) kits from its Japanese parent company, the official said, as Mitsubishi’s supplier of electronic control units (ECUs) was located near Fukushima, which was hit badly by the disasters that struck Japan last March.

ECUs are crucial auto parts, akin to the central processing unit of a computer.

The source said about 800 workers would be enjoined to avail of their vacation leaves when the plant goes on break two days a week this month.

MMPC employees underwent training during the two-week production stoppage, the official said.

The Cainta plant had been churning out between 80 and 120 units a day, but the daily production volume may be reduced amid the lack of parts, the source said.

MMPC assembles the Adventure, Lancer EX and L300 models, as well as Canter trucks. Other Mitsubishi models sold in the local market are imported from Thailand.

The official said locally assembled vehicles comprise almost half of MMPC’s sales. –BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA REPORTER, Manila Times