Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a Japanese automaker that has established a solid reputation in the U.S. market with a range of stylish cars and SUVs that offer high performance. However, the company's origins lie in producing commercial vehicles in its home market of Japan.

The name "Mitsubishi" means "three diamonds" in Japanese, and the company was founded in the 1870s by Yataro Iwasaki, a descendant of samurais. Originally focused on shipping, Mitsubishi diversified into areas such as mining and ship repair. In 1917, Mitsubishi introduced the Model A, which was Japan's first series production passenger car.

It was not until 1960 that Mitsubishi began producing passenger vehicles on a large scale, with the launch of the compact Mitsubishi 500. The company also released other light passenger vehicles, such as the 360 Van and 360 Pickup. In the same decade, Mitsubishi achieved success on the racetrack, winning Japan's Grand Prix.

In 1970, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was established as a separate company to focus on automobile production. The Colt, Mitsubishi's first car, arrived in the United States in 1971. Chrysler bought a 15% stake in the company that year, and the Colt was sold under the Dodge brand. By the end of the 1970s, Mitsubishi was producing over a million cars per year.

Throughout the 1980s, Mitsubishi offered a range of vehicles in the U.S., including the Mirage subcompact, the Starion sports car, and the Galant sedan. In the 1990s, the Eclipse sport coupe and 3000GT sports car became popular in the U.S., while the Lancer Evolution gained popularity elsewhere in the world.

Chrysler used Mitsubishi platforms for many of its models, and the Eclipse was a key vehicle produced by the Diamond Star Motors partnership. However, Mitsubishi's financial troubles in the early 2000s led to the end of the partnership with DaimlerChrysler.

Mitsubishi has faced challenges in recent years, including issues with vehicle defects in Japan and declining sales in the U.S. market. Nevertheless, the Lancer Evolution has remained popular, and Mitsubishi plans to revitalize its brand by focusing on developing environmentally friendly vehicles that are still fun to drive. The all-electric "i" hatchback is one example of this effort.