Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Takao Kato, who is considering joining the business integration talks between Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., said he believes Mitsubishi Motors can support Honda’s and Nissan’s vehicle production in Southeast Asia, during an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun on Tuesday.

Noting that the main market for both Honda and Nissan is North America, Kato said: “We have heard from the two companies that they find [the situation of] Mitsubishi Motors’ vehicles in Southeast Asia attractive. If the two companies are not able to produce vehicles in Southeast Asia, there may be talk of us doing it.”

Mitsubishi Motors is experiencing a decline in operating ratios at its plant in Thailand, and he said that the automaker “may consider supplying vehicles from its own plant” to the two companies.

Regarding Chinese automakers accelerating their expansion into the market, he said, “We are seeing whether we can compete on an individual company basis — next year will be an important year.”