Mitsubishi MD Rob Lindley: We'll hit 50,000 vehicles a year by 2022

The ambition comes in the form of Lindley’s target of 50,000 annual car and LCV registrations (the same target set by his predecessor, Lance Bradley, in 2016 – albeit this time ending in 2022) from 25% more retail sites. There has also been a much-reported drive towards online retail with Rockar – although perhaps not the 12 urban stores claimed at the time – and the introduction of a new corporate identity.

The humility lies in Lindley’s pragmatic approach to the plan, conceding that the brand will need “a bit of luck” and “good leadership” if it and its retailers are going to get there.

But he insists the goal is possible and said his thinking is informed by his record of success: “I have some experience of that kind of growth. I was at Mazda from 2001 to 2008 when Mazda went from 17,000 to 28,000 and then to 50,000 in a five-year turnaround. I was marketing director, sales director and managing director in that period.”