Sources state that Mitsubishi will stop Lancer production in August 2017, and the decision is primarily due to buyer preference shifting to SUVs internationally.
Mitsubishi Motors’ CEO for North America, Don Swearingen, said there aren’t any plans for a successor to the Lancer inspite of being aware that they’ll lose a bit through sales. Swearingen also added that the idea to discontinue the Lancer stemmed before the Renault-Nissan alliance took place.
Sales of Mitsubishi’s Lancer has steadily dropped from about 69,000 units sold in North America in 2002, to the 14,000 units they sold in 2016. Mitsubishi in America is confident that their Mirage hatchback and sedan, coupled with their upcoming compact crossover has what it takes to keep their sales figures strong.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that a lot of purists will mourn the demise of this rally-bred sedan in the time to come. Whether we will have to be prepared to see more of SUVs in the ‘Fast and Furious’ series around the turn of the decade; it’s a question that only time can tell. Stay tuned.
