17 November 1998, Tokyo. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recently signed an agreement with Ghabbour Egypt (headquarters in Cairo), under which the Egyptian company started production of Mitsubishi CANTER light-duty truck (GVW 6.3t, payload 3.5t) and minibus (bus coachwork on CANTER chasis) and large-size bus models (50 seats) in October, and started sales this November this year.

Mitsubishi Motors is supplying Ghabbour Egypt with technical assistance relating to CANTER truck and large-size bus production. The vehicles are being produced at one of Ghabbour Egypt 's current factories and will be marketed through its national sales network.

Plans call for the production of a total of some 1,500 CANTER trucks, minibuses and large-size buses in the first year, this figure to grow to between 4,000 and 5,000 in the future.

Ghabbour Egypt is also to begin importing the Mitsubishi ROSA small-size bus(26-seats) in December this year, and to market it through its national sales network.

One of Egypt's leading conglomerates, Ghabbour Egypt is currently the second largest manufacturer of automobiles after GM Egypt. The company currently has three automobile assembly plants, with a combined annuual production capacity of around 12,000 vehicles. The company is currently producing and marketing Hyundai passenger cars and Scania trucks and buses.

Mitsubishi Motors first entered the automobile market in Egypt in 1984 through a passenger car, truck and bus distribution venture with Masria Company (headquarters in Cairo). Mitsubishi Motors decided to embark on local production of light-duty trucks, minibuses and large-size buses with Ghabbour Egypt because the liberalization of the market, entry of foreign capital and Egyptian government's open-door policy in recent years all point to good prospects for growth in the automobile market. Mitsubishi Motors plans to grow and strengthen its ventures in Egypt using Ghabbour Egypt as its production base, and also to make Ghabbour Egypt a truck and bus production base for the Middle East and African markets.

Ghabbour Egypt corporate profile