Mitsubishi has announced plans to quadruple the number of dealerships in China in the next four years – to around 300 sites.

The move forms the centrepiece of company plans to sell 300,000 vehicles there in 2007 –about four times its 2002 sales. This will give the automaker a 5 per cent share of the Chinese market.

Mitsubishi Motors currently has about 20 exclusive dealerships in China. It also has another 50 joint dealerships with its top shareholder, DaimlerChrysler AG.

The plan is to increase the number of joint dealerships to about 120 and to establish more exclusive dealerships as well. Mitsubishi Motors will also consider having the dealerships of local affiliated carmakers sell its vehicles.