Kurihara to run Mitsubishi Motors N. American unit

Kurihara, 59, succeeds Hiroshi Harunari as head of Mitsubishi Motors North America, the Japanese automaker said. Harunari will return to Japan for reassignment within the company, Mitsubishi said.

Kurihara is currently Mitsubishi's senior executive officer in its product strategy office, where he directs the company's product planning activities, marketing and brand development. The new position will be his third assignment in the United States, Mitsubishi said.

Mitsubishi occupies just under 1 percent of the U.S. vehicle market share. The company just ratified a new contract with workers at its plant in Normal, Ill., last month. The plant employs more than 1,200 workers.

Mitsubishi sales are down 24 percent for the first 10 months of the year, according to Autodata Corp.