Eclipse 06 Poor Sales
Mitsubishi! > Cars > New Models > 2006 Eclipse > Sales
Disappointing Sales: 06 Eclipse!
Mitsubishi Motors introduced its 2006 Eclipse line with expensive promotion. However consumers are wiser now and not many took the bite. Eclipse's sales volume should be going down over time.
Optimism in Press Releases
December 1, 2005: 'Eclipse continued its dramatic improvement ...
November 1, 2005: 'Eclipse continues to exceed our most optimistic projections...' - David Schembri, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Mitsubishi Motors North America.
October 3, 2005: 'The month was highlighted by outstanding sales performance of the all-new 2006 Eclipse, which had the best sales month this year.'
September 1, 2005: 'August sales are a clear indication that consumers are responding extremely well to our exciting new Eclipse and our full line of products...' - David Schembri.
August 2, 2005: 'The successful launch of the all-new Eclipse is continuing to gain momentum and has energized the entire Mitsubishi lineup of products' - David Schembri
July 1, 2005: 'We are 'thrilled' with the successful launch of the new Eclipse...' - DS
June 1, 2005: '... the very successful launch of the all-new 2006 Eclipse has kicked off an exciting new era for Mitsubishi Motors.' - DS
Actual Sales Figures
Eclipse (includes Eclipse and Eclipse Spyder) sales (units) for 2003/2004/2005/2006 by months:
January (2003/2004/2005/2006): 3229/2046/775/1559
February: 2362/3390/1323/-
March: 3468/2667/2061/-
April: 4183/1915/1424/-
May: 4056/1693/1986/-
June: 3774/1356/2140/-
July: 3822/1316/2331/-
August: 4476/1201/2324/-
September: 2984/1126/2446/-
October: 2734/936/2171/-
November: 1881/738/1930/-
December: 1906/875/2096/-
Comments on Mitsu Eclipse's Sales
Redesigned Eclipse was introduced in June 2005. The previous Eclipse was about 6-7 years old and it is expected that sales will be higher for newer models. Besides, Mitsubishi spent lot of money on promoting its 2006 Eclipses.
However, sales are still at a low level; seemed to have laveled off and there is a downward trend especially in this tough auto market with nimble competitors with better technology and more cash resources introducing better new models.
2006 Eclipse sales starting with June: 2140, 2331, 2324, 2446, 2171, 1930, 2096, 1559. Downward spiral has begun!
Sales are still far below the level in 2003!
We think that Mitsubishi Motors USA was hoping that sales will be more than 5000 - probably around 6000 or more per month - so that it can operate two shifts in its Normal manufacturing plant. Unfortunately for Mitsubishi and fortunately for the consumers, Eclipse seems to have failed in exciting American consumers.