All-new Pajero Sport Outperforms Toyota Fortuner @ GIIAS 2016

MANILA: Our neighbours, the Indonesians were hosting one of the biggest annual indigenous auto event, the 2016 GIIAS. And we over the last few days have kept you updated with the same, bringing you all the news related to launches and showcase that graced the event. Now that the show is wrapped up, it's time to analyse which car registered amazing sale days and which one selected for a little less. The two cars we are here concerned about are Toyota Fortuner that was recently launched in the Philippines and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

During the eleven days Gaikindo Indonesia Auto Show, both the seven seater sport utility vehicles attracted many eyeballs but only one was successful enough to convert all that attention into a profitable trade. As per the reports from our correspondents, the all new Pajero Sport registered twice as many customers over all-new Toyota Fortuner. Numerically speaking, PT Krama Yudha Berlian Motors, official distributor of Mitsubishi in Indonesia managed to gross a whopping sales figure of 1,392 units. Whereas, PT Toyota Astra Motors sales figure concerning to Fortuner restricted to 771 units.

On this achievement Irwan Kuncoro, Operating General Manager, MMC Marketing Division KTB was heard saying that these sales figures rightly mirror 'public growing confidence' in the brand passenger vehicle segment. Also, this great response has now motivated Mitsubishi to introduce more and more high quality vehicles in the Indonesian market.

These two cars have always been tough competitors of each other, with their sales figures fluctuating on monthly bases. Like for example, it was during the month of February and March that Mitsubishi Pajero Sport topped the sales chart in SUV front, but soon after in the month of April and May Fortuner was seen pulling Pajero down. If we go by overall sales report from January to July 2016, it is all-new Fortuner that has outperformed Pajero Sport with 16,034 units, while the latter registered 11,419 sold units.

The reason behind the sudden boost in Mitsubishi Pajero Sport sales at GIIAS 2016 is attributed to its two new variants that were introduced at the auto show for the first time. We are talking about Dakar Pajero Sport 4X2 AT Limited Edition and 4X4 Dakar Limited Edition that were seen accompanying the usual four Pajero trims AT Exceed 4x2, 4x4 GLX MT, AT Dakar 4x2 and 4x4 AT Dakar. Let’s see if Toyota also introduces any limited edition for its much acclaimed Fortuner or continue to compete with existing models only.