Mitsubishi Heavy to supply parts for Airbus passenger aircraft

TOKYO/FRANKFURT, Germany -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has signed a contract with Airbus to supply parts for small passenger airplanes, Nikkei learned Sunday, part of the Japanese company's efforts to cut its dependence on troubled U.S. rival Boeing.

Mitsubishi Heavy will supply emergency doors for Airbus's A321neo. The parts will be manufactured at subsidiary MHI Aerospace Vietnam, with mass production expected to begin around August.