AUTOS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Mitsubishi Motor Sales Slashes Management: The U.S. importer of Mitsubishi cars and trucks said it has permanently eliminated 50 middle-management positions in a restructuring that leaves it with 496 corporate employees. The layoffs, which include 40 managers at the company’s headquarters in Cypress and 10 in regional offices, follows a more dramatic management restructuring at Irvine-based Mazda Motor America in August. Mazda laid off a number of top-ranking managers, including the company’s chief operating officer. Auto industry analysts say that Japanese car companies in the United States have been struggling to cope with increased operating costs as the yen strengthens and Japan’s economy slumps.
