"Other than the Lancer, no other Mitsubishi models currently distributed by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, including its recently launched vehicles – the all-new Lancer Sportback in October and the ASX compact crossover this month - will be based on this technical collaboration in the future," said its chief executive officer Tetsuya Oda.

Oda said that while the Proton Inspira is modelled after the Mitsubishi Lancer, it differs in a number of ways – with both having its own unique traits, allowing each respective vehicle to differentiate itself in the marketplace.

 

Proton Inspira	Mitsubishi Lancer

 "Each brand also caters to a different group of customer segments with a different set of driving desires and expectations," he said in a statement.

Imported and distributed by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the Lancer is a completely built-up unit (CBU) – in which all parts and assembly standards have met Mitsubishi Motors’ stringent global quality standards.

"In addition to being fully manufactured by MMC in Japan, the Mitsubishi Lancer is also designed and produced to meet the highest European (high-speed driving performance and handling), American (safety) and Japanese (vehicle built) quality standards," he said.

The Inspira, on the other hand, is assembled at Proton’s facility in Shah Alam and will contain 40% local parts within the year.

Oda also said Lancer owners get an exclusive five-year warranty programme in addition to a complimentary two-year maintenance programme on all parts and labour.

He also said that Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has an extensive sales and service network which includes 54 service centres and 41 sales outlets nationwide – out of which 15 are 3S (Sales, Service and Spare parts) centres.

The company, Oda said, intends to increase its sales network to 45 by March next year with 27 3S centres.