By Eric Stock

SAN FRANCISCO – A Mitsubishi Motors official said the automaker is doing an evaluation of the plant in Normal and will decide its future later this year.

The executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America Don Swearingen told www.wardsauto.com “We just have to determine what’s the best use of the facility, and then make some decisions on what we’re going to do with it.”

The plant in Normal is the Japanese automaker’s only production facility in North America. It’s been producing the Outlander Sport there since 2012 and has experienced sharp sales gains over the last year, but is produced at a much lower volume than some competitors such as the Honda CR-V.

The crossover SUV is also made at Mitsubishi plants in Japan, Brazil, China and Indonesia, according to the report.

Swearingen told wardsauto.com: “(Normal) has been a vital part of Mitsubishi, but at the end of the day we make the Outlander Sport in four or five different locations.”

General Manager of O’Brien Mitsubishi in Normal Ryan Gremore serves as Chairman for MMNA’s National Advisory Board. Gremore said he’s not aware of any plans for the plant in Normal, but said given that Mitsubishi sells more vehicles in the U.S. than anywhere in the world, it would be hard to imagine any reductions.

“You don’t take your number one player off the floor when it’s game time,” Gremore said, adding Mitsubishi is the fastest-growing Asian carmaker in the United States.

Gremore speculated the comments from Mitsubishi could be a negotiating tactic as the company engages in contract talks with the United Auto Workers.

CEO of the McLean County Economic Development Center Kyle Ham said EDC officials recently visited the plant.

“There was no indication from (Mitsubishi) they are doing anything other than continuing to make vehicles out there.”

According to EDC statistics, Mitsubishi is McLean County’s fifth largest employer. It had 1,251 full-time equivalent employees in 2014.

“They are a valuable asset for us,” Ham said. “We want to make sure we continue to work with them and understand what their future needs are.”

Mitsubishi Motors North America issued this statement in response to WJBC’s request for comment:

“Mitsubishi Motors North America continuously evaluates our supply chain to ensure we remain competitive and best positioned to serve our customers.

Our facility in Normal is facing challenging business realities, including low production and the complete evaporation of the Russian export market in late 2014. Despite these challenges, we are working cooperatively with the UAW to drive growth, provide fair wages and benefits, and sustain our competitive manufacturing advantage.”

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].