Mitsubishi to Double Employment at Japan Plant

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. reportedly will hire an additional 500-600 workers at a Japanese plant it once planned on closing.

The auto maker will switch from one shift to two at its plant in Okazaki, Aichi prefecture, Reuters says. About 1,300 will be employed there by the end of this year.

The turnaround in the plant’s fate is due to the sales success of Mitsubishi’s new Outlander cross/utility vehicle in Japan, the report says. Okazaki is one of two Mitsubishi plants in Japan building the vehicle.

Mitsubishi also will change from a one-shift operation to two shifts at its plant in Gifu prefecture as domestic sales improve.