Ralliart, Mitsubishi’s high-performance division, has announced that it will be shutting down because of financial issues.
However, Mitsubishi USA PR boss Maurice Durand assures us that this will not affect any of Mitsubishi’s present or future cars, at least in the US market. There will continue to be Ralliart models in the line-up, as Mitsubishi owns the rights to the name, logo, etc. Most current Ralliart cars use aftermarket parts anyways, which is why they won’t be affected. The select few which get parts from Ralliart will have to find a workaround of some sort, and will be developed by Mitsubishi or with aftermarket parts in the future. The official date of Ralliart’s closure, rather ironically, is April 1st.
The only way this will affect consumers is the lack of aftermarket Ralliart parts, but I’m interested in how this will affect Mitsubishi’s motorsports involvement. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Press Release
Partial Cease of Business Activities along with Ralliart Inc’s
Business Scale Down
Ralliart Inc (President Masao Taguchi) has announced as follows.Dear all of our customers ,
First of all, we much appreciate for your usual patronage to our company.
Our company have done the various activities relating motorsport with the support of many people since the establishment in April,1984 so far. However, because of the sudden change of economy situation since the year before last, the business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc., would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010.Along with the scale down of our business activities this time, we would cease the following business and operation which we have done so far. We would like to express our sincere apology to all of customers though we would make you much inconveniences.
Meanwhile, we wish you a continuous support to Ralliart family and entrants driving Mitsubishi cars who play an active part all over the world.
Items which would cease our business and operation along with our business scale down;
1. Support to motorsport customers(Support to the participation, Technical Support, and Awarding of Mitsubishi/Ralliart Driver of the Year)
2. New Planning, Development and Merchandize of Ralliart products (Except FIA VO parts) :*1
3. Information of new products and dispatching motorsport information(at web):*2*1 FIA VO parts development and those application work shall be done by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as it is.
*2 FIA Group-N information shall be open at the web site of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.Date of the cease: 1st April, 2010