Mitsubishi may seek new partner

[United Press International]

TOKYO, May 1 (UPI) -- The new head of Mitsubishi Motors is
suggesting he may seek a partnership with other automakers besides
its biggest shareholder, DaimlerChrysler.
"We don't have any plan to seek a new partner at the moment.
But that is possible in the future," Yoichiro Okazaki said Friday.
Okazaki, a former managing director at Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Ltd., was appointed president in the day's extraordinary
shareholders' meeting, during which Mitsubishi came under fire, the
Japan Times reported Saturday.
Mitsubishi may ask the Toyota Motor group and other
companies to help it find jobs for employees who will be lose their
job as part of drastic restructuring measures.
Okazaki said he can his lack of experience in the auto
industry with his management expertise. He vowed to turn Mitsubishi
around.
"This is not a temporary appointment," he said. "It is my
responsibility to carry out the (restructuring) plan."