Mitsubishi sets sights on Americas for new jet

TOKYO: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said today it will launch a sales drive for Japan's first passenger jet in the Americas next month, hoping for a share of a large but crowded market for regional airliners.

Mitsubishi is expected to face tough competition from established makers of similar jets in the region, including Canada's Bombardier and Brazil's Embraer.

Mitsubishi's aircraft division said it would put USD 700,000 in the Texas-based sales subsidiary as it targets a huge market stretching from Canada to Chile.

"Establishing a local sales and marketing base in the world's largest regional jet market, that of the Americas, is incredibly significant for our company," said Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. president Nobuo Toda.

He said the move should boost the profile of the aeroplane and pave the way for "a large number of orders".
The MRJ would be the first commercial passenger aircraft in four decades - and the first jet airplane - to be developed in Japan.

The company says the 70-90 seat aeroplane can save about 20 per cent of fuel consumption through a new "geared turbofan" engine designed by US-based Pratt & Whitney as well as a lighter body using innovative material.

Mitsubishi Heavy said in March it had decided to go ahead with commercial development of the plane after landing its first order from All Nippon Airways for up to 25 aircraft.

The project has development and sales support from Boeing Co and financial backing from Toyota Motor Corp and three Japanese trading houses.