The history of Mitsubishi

Intro:

The history of Mitsubishi as an automobile manufacturer dates back long before the Motor Vehicles Division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. was incorporated as Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 1970. Mitsubishi's epoch making vehicle which rolled off the assembly line in 1917 was the Model-A, Japan's first series production passenger car. Always the innovator, the Mitsubishi Model-A was the pioneer of vehicles in Japan. In the early years, vehicles were produced by the ship and aircraft manufacturing arm of Mitsubishi. Therein lies the provenance of Mitsubishi Motors' engineering excellence and the resultant reputation for outstanding reliability and all around performance of its vehicles.

Today, Mitsubishi Motors ranks as one of the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, and one of the very few that can b 858j95i oast a vehicle lineup which extends from mini cars to heavy-duty trucks, buses and other specialized commercial vehicles.

1917 - 1940 - Pioneers in Japan

In the early 1870s, as Japan emerged from over 300 years of feudal isolation, a young entrepreneur, Yataro Iwasaki, formed a small shipping company named the Tsukumo Shokai. Following several name changes this company became Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Company in 1875, the root of the combined Mitsubishi companies of today. A family owned and directed business, the company quickly expanded into other fields of endeavor and became one of the largest combines in pre-world War II Japan. By the end of 1945, business ventures in addition to shipping included heavy industries with ship building at its helm, banking, trading, mining, real estate, chemicals and many others.

The entrepreneurship and strong social commitment of the Iwasaki family helped to establish the deep rooted pioneering spirit and social consciousness throughout the Mitsubishi companies, one that is in strong evidence to this day.

The first two decades of Mitsubishi's history as a vehicle manufacturer were characterized by the intense dedication to create new innovations in what was then a budding industry in Japan. This dedication to new ideas began with the epic Model-A passenger car, which remained in production for four years and was so highly acclaimed that it was featured at the 1922 Industrial Exposition staged in Tokyo. The Model-A launched Mitsubishi as a major participant in the automotive industry. As early as 1918, Mitsubishi had already produced its first truck, the T1 prototype. The T1 completed a 1,000 kilometer durability test sponsored by the Japanese government, thus proving its durability and reliability.

1931 saw a major breakthrough with the development of Japan's first diesel engine for motor vehicle application, the 450AD, a direct injection unit that produced 70ps.The following year, Mitsubishi produced its first bus, the B46, the largest and the most powerful of its time and progenitor of the now world renowned Fuso commercial vehicle series.

The 1930s was a golden decade with many innovative firsts for Mitsubishi which in turn were firsts for the automotive industry in Japan. Most prominent among them were the PX33, 4WD prototype passenger car (1934), the BD46 and BD43 diesel buses (1935), the SHT6 pre-combustion chamber type diesel engine (1935) and the TD45 diesel powered truck (1936).

By no means did all of Mitsubishi's innovations during this period go into actual production. What mattered most was Mitsubishi's willingness to experiment with new ideas as this led to a well spring of knowledge which was to serve Mitsubishi well in the following years.

1941-1950 - Rebuilding the nation

At the end of the Second World War, Japan lay in ruins, its economic infrastructure virtually destroyed by bombing. For the country to have any future, there had to be a massive reconstruction effort, including rebuilding and extension of the road network.

By order of the Allied powers, Japan's large industrial groupings were dismantled. In 1950, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was split into three regional companies, with each maintaining an involvement in motor vehicle development. This explains the diverse and somewhat overlapping nature of Mitsubishi's progress, but necessity as the mother of invention was the key to all developments in the late 40s and 50s.

In 1946 came the "Mizushima," a small, reliable and economical three-wheel cargo carrier that perfectly fitted the bill for people's short-distance transport needs immediately after the war. It was soon provided with an enclosed cabin for two passengers. The same year saw the introduction of Mitsubishi's first scooter, the "Silver Pigeon." Again, the emphasis was on practicality and economy, but in the light of history the "Silver Pigeon" may be said to have helped initiate Japan's personal transport boom.

1951 - 1960 - Rebuilding the nation

The country's major automotive need during this period was for commercial vehicles, with the situation complicated by the fact that in the first few years there was a severe fuel shortage. Mitsubishi's B1 bus, introduced in 1946, could be run either on gasoline or alternative fuels. Its chassis was an ideal platform for fire engines and other special-purpose vehicles. The MB46, launched in 1947, was an electric bus. In 1950, Mitsubishi marketed the R1, Japan's first rear-engine bus.

In the truck field, Mitsubishi continued its role as pioneer: the T31 (1951) featured an original type of chassis, the follow-up T33 was Japan's first truck to be equipped with an air suspension system, and the T380 was the first tilt-cab truck built in Japan.

1961 - 1970 - The personal car

By the beginning of the 1960s, Japan's economy was gearing up for take-off. Real wages were rising and many people could afford their own wheels. The idea of family motoring began to grip the Japanese imagination, and the Mitsubishi 500, designed for a mass market and introduced in 1960, made those dreams come true. It was the Mitsubishi 500 that was responsible for the promotion of Mitsubishi quality to an audience beyond Japan, taking class honors in the Macau Grand Prix.

In 1962 came the Minica, Mitsubishi's first micro-compact four-seater. Based on the Mitsubishi 360 (1960), the Minica's 2-stroke, air-cooled 359cc gasoline engine placed it in the lowest vehicle tax category. That was not the only reason it sold so well; it was also highly reliable and economical. The Minica name lives on today.

The same applies to the Colt 600, a larger, more comfortable family car (although the modern Colt has a different development origin), also launched in 1962. In 1965, Mitsubishi introduced the Colt 800, the first fast-back model in Japan.

In 1969, Mitsubishi went further up market. The Colt Galant sedan was the first of what was to become a long and illustrious line with a multitude of motorsports honors and consumer-related awards to its name. It was distinguished by its aerodynamically designed shape, the so-called "dynawedge line," and by its Saturn series SOHC engine with aluminum head. The 1969 Galant was a genuine pacesetter in the Japanese market, representing as it did the integration of the latest and best in auto technologies.

Meanwhile, as a glance at the chronology shows, Mitsubishi was expanding its range of commercial vehicles to cover the whole spectrum of cargo-carrying needs. New models included the Rosa small-size bus series in 1960 and the light-duty Canter truck series in 1963. By the end of the 1960s, Mitsubishi was well and truly established as a comprehensive motor vehicle manufacturer with a deserved and rapidly growing reputation for all-round quality. It was time for a big change.

1971-1980 - Foundation of Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi's motor vehicle business had become so important and successful an enterprise by the end of the 1960s that the creation of a single operation to focus on that business was an obvious way forward. In 1970, the Motor Vehicle Division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. became independent under the name Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC). So it was with a renewed optimism and sense of purpose that the fledgling company, but with a rich inheritance of technology behind it, entered the 1970s.

One area of concentration for MMC was the further development of its own infrastructure in Japan, covering all fields from R&D and production to distributor networks and after sales service. Yet it was an event in Australia that pointed MMC in the direction of a global role. In 1972, a Galant 16GLS won outright the 7th Southern Cross Rally, a highly prestigious long-distance rally raid covered by the world's motoring press. The next year, the same event was won by a Lancer 1600GSR, the Lancer series having been launched only months earlier. The same model repeated its Australian success in 1974, when it also won the East Africa Safari Rally, and again in 1976. MMC was now demonstrating the superb performance and reliability qualities of its vehicles on a world stage.

While Mitsubishi cars were winning such honors, MMC was busy setting up an international distributor network to get their vehicles into the hands of a sophisticated motoring public that understood the virtues that Mitsubishi vehicles embodied. Following the 1973 "Oil Crisis," the world felt the power of the oil producing nations. Even as the price of gasoline spiraled, motorists were reluctant to sacrifice performance for fuel economy.

In combining economy with performance, Mitsubishi cars set a standard that captured the imagination. The decade ended with the Colt 1400 GLX winning Japan's Motor Fan magazine's "Car of the Year" award and the L200 taking the "USA's Pickup of the Year" award given by Pickup, Van & 4WD magazine.

Mitsubishi Motors had also been breaking new ground on the technology front, most significantly in the development of Silent Shaft technology for the Astron 80 engine. This was a world-first achievement and was saluted by Japan's Automobile Technology Association with its "Prize for Science." Japanese automobile technology in general was now respected worldwide, and Mitsubishi was once again at the forefront of innovation.

1981 -1990 - Global expansion

Mitsubishi was determined to become one of the world's leading auto manufacturers. There was no question about the excellence of its products, so Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was confident in its decision to go seriously global. The success of the 1980s provided full justification for that confidence.

One important aspect of Mitsubishi's global expansion was sponsorship of big, international events. MMC took the first of many steps along this road when it became official vehicle supplier to the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1987 Universiade Games in Zagreb, both venues in the former Yugoslavia. Mitsubishi cars were seen by TV audiences all over the world.

One of the models supplied for both events was the Mitsubishi Pajero (Montero), which in many ways personifies the progress MMC has made as a world's top manufacturer. The Pajero, first launched in 1982, was quite different from anything seen before in the 4WD category. Here was an off-roader with real performance, real comfort and great looks! Incredibly, in the 1983 Paris-Dakar Paris Rally, the world's greatest adventure rally, Pajeros won the Unmodified 4WD Production Class, the Marathon Class and Best Team Award. In 1985, a Pajero won the Dakar outright. A legend had been born. Not surprisingly, the Pajero became a global best-seller. So many were the honors awarded to the Pajero in so many countries that mention of one of the most prestigious must suffice here. In 1986, the UK's What Car? named the Pajero its "4x4 of the Year."

The Pajero was not alone in the honors list. In 1984, the Mitsubishi Galant won Germany's "Das Goldene Lenkrad" (Golden Steering Wheel) award, a feat repeated by the Colt and the Lancer in 1988. Domestically, the Galant VR-4 was voted the "Japanese Car of the Year 1987-1988." Again, lack of space rather than modesty forbids highlighting of the many other awards won by Mitsubishi vehicles in the 1980s. The Mitsubishi reputation for performance, reliability and technological brilliance was now truly confirmed in the eyes of the world.

By the end of the decade, MMC had also extended its assembly and production facilities on an international scale. In this area, the most significant step was the opening in 1988 of a state-of-the-art production plant in Bloomington, Illinois by Diamond Star Motors Corporation, a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Chrysler.

1991 - 2000

Throughout the 1990s the Shogun continued to dominate rally events like the Dakar, and Mitsubishi vehicles also began to make their mark on the World Rally Championships. By the end of the century Tommi Makenin in a Lancer had won the Championship an historic four consecutive times whilst Lancers totally dominated the Group N Championships - for vehicles which are basically showroom standard.

Technologically this decade saw incredible advances. In 1990 MMC introduced the world's first Traction Control System, followed by Super Select 4WD and Multi-mode ABS in 1991 and INVECS in 1992. Commercial production of the Libero electric car began in 1994 whilst 1996 saw the development of the GDI engine.

Overseas production expansion was attained with the first Carismas rolling off the line at NedCar, Holland in 1995 - a joint venture between MMC, Volvo and the Dutch government - as well as the opening of production lines in Australia and Thailand. NedCar became a wholly owned MMC facility within a year.

2000 -

In 2000, MMC and DaimlerChrysler (DC) developed a business partnership that involved design, development and production co-operation. DC purchased a 37% stake in MMC and at NedCar Volvo production was replaced by Smart Four-Fours. In 2004 DC's stake in MMC was sold to the Mitsubishi Family (comprising of Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi). However, MMC and Daimler Chrysler have maintained a successful business relationship and continue to share B & C segment platforms and engines.

In terms of motor-sport, the strength of Mitsubishi's 4x4 heritage was yet again demonstrated by a record breaking 11th victory in the 2006 Dakar rally - the sixth successive victory for the Japanese manufacturer in six years.

Today, MMC has manufacturing facilities in over 30 countries and its sales and after-sales organisation is present in more than 170 countries.