Who Owns Mitsubishi Motors?

Mitsubishi's automotive history dates back to 1917 when Mitsubishi Shipbuilding (later Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) produced the Model A, Japan's first series-production automobile. The seven-seat sedan was hand-built and demonstrated Mitsubishi's early commitment to automotive engineering, though the company focused primarily on trucks and commercial vehicles for the following decades.

In 1970, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries formally established Mitsubishi Motors Corporation as a separate automotive division. The new company quickly expanded its passenger car lineup, producing the Galant, Lancer, and Colt models. The Mitsubishi Lancer became one of the company's most iconic nameplates, particularly through its success in rally racing.

Mitsubishi gained worldwide recognition through its dominant performance in the World Rally Championship during the 1990s and 2000s. The Lancer Evolution, introduced in 1992, became a legendary performance car and rally weapon, winning four consecutive WRC manufacturers' championships from 1996 to 1999. The Mitsubishi Pajero (known as Montero or Shogun in some markets) won the Dakar Rally a record 12 times, establishing Mitsubishi's reputation for building tough, capable off-road vehicles.

The company pioneered plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology with the Outlander PHEV, launched in 2013, which became the world's best-selling plug-in hybrid SUV. In 2016, following a fuel economy testing scandal, Nissan acquired a 34% controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors, bringing the company into the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Under the Alliance partnership, Mitsubishi has focused on its strengths in SUVs, pickup trucks, and electrified vehicles, particularly in Southeast Asian markets where the brand holds strong market positions.