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Last car today for the 380

It's a sad day but Mitsubishi guarantees full parts warranty and service support for all Mitsubishi products, including the 380.

The last of the Mitsubishi 380s will come off the production line to end car manufacturing at Mitsubishi's plant at Tonsley Park this afternoon.

It is understood a media presentation at the plant this afternoon will reveal what will happen to the final few cars made today.

“Some of the last vehicles off the line will go to special homes,” Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd corporate communications manager Lenore Fletcher said yesterday.

“There has been a great deal of interest in the final vehicles of 380 production.”

Today the final checks will be made on the last cars to be built at the southern suburbs car factory, opened 44 years ago under the Chrysler Australia banner.

The closure of the plant - and loss of 930 jobs - was announced early last month by MMAL president and chief executive Robert McEniry.

Tonsley Park makes only the 380, a large sedan, at a time when the swing has been away from large cars. And it could not find a business case to produce any other model.

“This has been a very difficult decision,” Mr McEniry said.

Mitsubishi's task from now is to make sure motorists realise it remains as an importer and a strong car brand in Australia.

It is arranging full parts warranty and service support for all Mitsubishi products, including the 380, at its 200 dealers across the nation.

A decision is yet to be made on what will happen to the large site at Tonsley Park, although the State Government has said it does not want it to go to housing development but wishes it to stay an industrial precinct, creating permanent jobs.