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Things You Would Love to Know About Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by global vehicle production standards. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi's automotive origins date back as far as 1917, when the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company Ltd. introduced the Model A, Japan's first series-production automobile.

The logo of three red diamonds was chosen by Yataro Iwasaki. His family crest was three rhombuses stacked atop each other. The name Mitsubishi is a Japanese portmanteau of ‘mitsu’ meaning three and ‘hishi’ meaning water chestnut which is often used to denote a diamond or rhombus.

In 1914, the trademark of Mitsubishi was registered.

In 1917, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company Limited developed Model-A passenger car.

The Mitsubishi Fuso bus was developed in 1932.

A prototype of PX33 military-use 4WD passenger car was developed in 1937.

In 1953, Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries starts knockdown assembly of the Jeep and sets up the automobile department at its headquarters.

The year 1960 was marked by the launch of the Mitsubishi 500, the first compact four-wheel passenger car.

The Colt 600 came in 1962 and the Mitsubishi 500 Super Deluxe won a class title in the 9th Macau Grand Prix.

Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries rolled out the Colt 1000 in 1963.

The Mitsubishi Motor Sales Corporation came into being in 1964. The Colt 1000 won a class title in the 2nd Japan Grand Prix Auto Races.

The Colt 1500 made its entry in 1965.

The Colt Formula 3A dominated the 3rd Japan Grand Prix in1966.

The Colt IIA won the Formula Car Race in the 4th Japan Grand Prix Auto Races in 1967.

In 1968, the Colt FIIB won the 5th Japan Grand Prix Speed Cup Race and the Colt 1100F Sport won the 3rd Australian Southern Cross Rally. A partnership agreement with Isuzu Motors Limited is signed that year.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was born on 22nd April 1970. The Colt Galant GTO with 4G32 DOHC Saturn engine was launched and a joint venture with Chrysler was concluded.

The Mitsubishi Lancer debuted in 1973 and the Galant 16L HT GS won the 21st East African Safari Rally. The Lancer 1600GSR won all the titles in the 8th Australian Southern Cross Rally and a contract on giving technical assistance on the 4G36 engine to Hyundai Motor Company is finalised.

n 1976, the symbol mark ‘M.M’ is attached to new products.

In 1979, the total number of cars produced exceeds one million/year.

The Lancer EX1800 Turbo with a gasoline turbo engine was introduced in 1981 and Mitsubishi Motor Sales America, Iuc. (MMSA) was established.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation acquire a 10 % stake in Hyundai Motors in 1982 and Tamachi Inc was founded in Puerto Rico where the company has a 100 % stake.

The Pajero took part in the 1983 Paris-Dakar rally for the first time and won the unmodified production class title and also finished first and second in the marathon racing.

In 1984, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Heavy Industries Corporation of Malaysia (HICOM) established a joint national car business that later became the Proton.

In 1985, the Pajero entered the 7th Paris-Dakar Rally and won the overall title. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Chrysler reached an agreement to terminate and cancel the basic contract on a joint venture of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. An agreement with Chrysler to set up a joint corporation for producing passenger cars in the United States was achieved.

In 1986, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation acquires a 19% stake and Mitsubishi Corporation.

Basic partnership agreement with Daimler Benz including sales of Mercedes-Benz in Japan and production of commercial vehicles in Europe was achieved in 1987. Moreover, the use of the mark of three-diamond as emblems for cars for the domestic market resumes.

Mitsubishi Motors Europe (MME) was formed in 1989.

The Pajero was launched with super-select 4WD, Multi-mode ABS and 4G15 MVV engine in 1991. The Lancer Van Electric Vehicle (EV) was launched too.

The first generation of the Lancer Evolution came in 1992. Mitsubishi cars were equipped with INVECS 4-wheel multi-link suspension, 4G92 MIVEC engine, Distance Warning System and passenger airbag.

Power window with safety features marked Mitsubishi cars in 1993 and Chrysler sold off its stock holdings of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.

Gasoline Direct Injection Engine (GDI) was developed in 1995 and an advanced safety vehicle the Mitsubishi ASV was produced as well as the L200 Strada was unveiled in Thailand.

It was in 1998 that Audi AG became the owner of Lamborghini.

In 2000, a new generation powertrain GDI-CVT was developed.

In 2002, a plan to develop new engines jointly with DaimlerChrysler and Hyundai Motor was announced. The Colt was launched in the same year.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 2003 announced that the net profit for fiscal year 2002 was a record high for the company.

Presently, the company has seven vehicle manufacturing facilities in five countries, Japan, Netherlands, Philippines, Thailand, United States, and around 20 plants co-owned in partnership with others. It also has three further engine and transmission manufacturing plants, three R&D centers and 136 subsidiaries, affiliates and partners. Its vehicles are manufactured, assembled or sold in more than 170 countries worldwide.