Mitsubishi Idles U.S. Plant for 12 Weeks

Mitsubishi Idles U.S. Plant for 12 Weeks

Mitsubishi Motors North America says its assembly plant in Normal, Illinois, will remain closed an additional five weeks as the Japanese automaker tries to reduce inventories, rising due to sluggish sales.

The plant, which employs 1,400 people and assembles the Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Galant and Endeavor, will be closed a total of 12 weeks, from February 16 through May 8.

Originally, Mitsubishi had scheduled the plant to be closed for seven weeks. The automaker said employees will still report to work and be paid as usual during the shutdown.

Mitsubishi's sales dropped 25 percent in 2008 compared with 2007, more than the total industry's 18 percent.

Photo by Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Galant

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.