Mitsubishi Motors facts for kids
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Mitsubishi Motors's headquarters in Shibaura, Minato, Tokyo
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Native name
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三菱自動車工業株式会社
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Romanized name
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Mitsubishi Jidōsha Kōgyō KK |
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| Traded as | TYO: 7211 |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Automobile Division |
| Founded | 22 April 1970 |
| Headquarters | Tamachi Station Tower S,
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Japan
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Number of locations
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Cypress, California, United States Schiphol-Rijk, Netherlands Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand Cikarang, West Java, Indonesia |
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Key people
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| Products |
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Production output
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 1,024,888 vehicles (FY2021) |
| Revenue |  ¥2.514 trillion (FY2018) |
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Operating income
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¥111.815 billion (FY2018) |
| ¥119.850 billion (FY2018) |
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| Total assets | ¥2.010 trillion (FY2018) |
| Total equity | ¥945.818 billion (FY2018) |
| Owners |
(as of 30 September 2023) |
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Number of employees
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42,625 (total) 13,829 (non-consolidated) 28,796 (consolidated) (as of 10 November 2022) |
| Subsidiaries | Transportation: NMKV Soueast(Defunct) Hunan Changfeng Motor GAC Mitsubishi(Defunct) Ralliart Engines: Harbin Dongan Automotive Engine Manufacturing Sports: Urawa Red Diamonds Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima International: Mitsubishi Motors Australia Mitsubishi Motors Europe Mitsubishi Motors North America Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) |
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (三菱自動車工業株式会社, Mitsubishi Jidōsha Kōgyō KK, lit. Mitsubishi Automotive Industry Company, /mɪtsʊˈbiːʃi/, Japanese pronunciation: [mitsɯꜜbiɕi]) is a big Japanese company that makes cars. Its main office is in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. In 2011, Mitsubishi Motors was the sixth-largest car maker in Japan. It was also the 19th largest in the world based on how many cars it made. Since October 2016, Nissan has owned a big part (34%) of Mitsubishi. This makes Mitsubishi part of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance.
Mitsubishi Motors is also part of the Mitsubishi Group, which is a group of many different companies. This group used to be the biggest industrial group in Japan. Mitsubishi Motors started in 1970. It was created from the car-making part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation used to be part of Mitsubishi Motors. This company builds trucks, buses, and heavy machines. Now, it is owned by a German company called Daimler Truck. Mitsubishi still owns a small part of it.
Contents
History of Mitsubishi Cars
Mitsubishi started making cars way back in 1917. That's when Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., made the Mitsubishi Model A. This was Japan's first car made in a series, meaning more than just a few. It was a seven-seater car built by hand. But it was very expensive compared to cars made in other countries. So, they stopped making it in 1921 after only 22 cars were built.
In 1934, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding joined with Mitsubishi Aircraft Co. This new, bigger company was called Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It was the largest private company in Japan. MHI focused on making planes, ships, and trains. But in 1937, they made a special car called the Mitsubishi PX33. This car was a test model for military use. It was the first Japanese car with four-wheel drive. This technology helps a car drive on rough roads. Mitsubishi would use this technology again many years later for racing and selling cars.
After World War II
After World War II, the company started making vehicles again. They began making Fuso buses. They also made a small three-wheeled cargo vehicle called the Mitsubishi Mizushima and a scooter called the Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon. In 1950, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was split into three smaller companies. Each of these companies worked on developing motor vehicles.
One of these companies, East Japan Heavy-Industries, started bringing in parts for American cars in 1951. They would then put these cars together in Japan. Another company, Central Japan Heavy-Industries, made a similar deal for Jeep CJ-3Bs. Mitsubishi continued to make licensed Jeeps until 1998.
By the early 1960s, Japan's economy was growing. More people could afford cars. Central Japan Heavy-Industries, now called Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, made a new car for everyone. It was called the Mitsubishi 500. In 1962, they made the Mitsubishi Minica, a small "kei car." They also launched the Colt 1000 in 1963, which was the first of their Colt family cars. In 1964, Mitsubishi made its biggest car, the Mitsubishi Debonair. This was a luxury car mainly for the Japanese market.
The three Mitsubishi companies joined back together as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1964. Within three years, they were making over 75,000 vehicles each year. After the Mitsubishi Galant was successful in 1969, the company decided to create a separate company just for cars. So, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was formed on April 22, 1970. It was led by Tomio Kubo.
The famous logo with three red diamonds has been around for almost 100 years. It was chosen by Iwasaki Yatarō, who started Mitsubishi. The name Mitsubishi (三菱) means "three water caltrops" or "three rhombuses." This is why the logo looks like three diamonds.
Working with Chrysler
The 1970s
Tomio Kubo wanted to sell more cars to other countries. So, in 1971, Mitsubishi sold 15% of its new car company to the American car giant Chrysler. Because of this deal, Chrysler started selling the Galant in the United States. They called it the Dodge Colt. This helped Mitsubishi make over 250,000 cars a year. In 1977, the Galant was also sold in Australia as the Chrysler Sigma.
By 1977, Mitsubishi started selling cars directly in Europe. They set up "Colt"-branded dealerships. Car production grew from 500,000 in 1973 to 965,000 in 1978. But this growth caused some problems between Mitsubishi and Chrysler. Chrysler felt that Mitsubishi was selling cars in their markets. Mitsubishi felt that Chrysler was trying to control their decisions too much.
The 1980s
Mitsubishi made one million cars in 1980. But Chrysler was having financial problems. To avoid bankruptcy, Chrysler had to sell its car-making division in Australia to Mitsubishi that year. Mitsubishi renamed it Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd (MMAL).
In 1982, Mitsubishi cars were sold in America under the Mitsubishi brand for the first time. The Mitsubishi Tredia car and the Mitsubishi Cordia and Mitsubishi Starion sports cars were sold through 70 dealers. Mitsubishi was only allowed to sell a certain number of cars in the U.S. each year. This was part of an agreement between the two countries. By the end of the 1980s, Mitsubishi wanted to sell even more cars in the U.S. They started their first TV ads and planned to have more dealers.
By 1989, Mitsubishi was making 1.5 million cars worldwide, including cars made by its partners.
Diamond-Star Motors
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Even with their disagreements, Chrysler and Mitsubishi decided to work together. They started a car-making company in Illinois, USA. This company was called Diamond-Star Motors (DSM). The name came from their logos: Mitsubishi's three diamonds and Chrysler's pentastar (a five-pointed star). This new company helped them get around import rules. It also made new small cars for Chrysler. DSM started in 1985. In 1988, their factory was finished and could make 240,000 cars a year. They first made three sports cars: the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser.
Going Public in 1988
In 1988, Mitsubishi Motors became a public company. This meant that people could buy shares of the company. Before this, it was a private company. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries agreed to own 25% of the company. Chrysler also bought more shares, owning over 20%. Selling shares helped Mitsubishi pay off some debts. It also helped them invest more in countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The 1990s
Hirokazu Nakamura became the president of Mitsubishi in 1989. He led the company in good directions. Sales of the new Mitsubishi Pajero car were very popular, even in busy Japan.
In the early 1990s, people started buying many SUVs and light trucks in the U.S. Nakamura decided to spend more money on developing SUVs. This was a good decision! Mitsubishi's many four-wheel drive vehicles became very popular in Japan. These included small cars like the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini and passenger vans like the Delica Space Gear. By 1995, Mitsubishi's share of the car market in Japan grew to 11.6%.
Becoming Independent
In 1991, Chrysler sold its part of Diamond-Star Motors back to Mitsubishi. After that, the two companies still shared some parts and manufacturing, but they were not partners anymore. Chrysler sold all its remaining shares in Mitsubishi Motors by 1993. Then, Mitsubishi started looking for new partners with other car makers around the world. Their most important partnership was with Nissan to make small "kei cars."
The 2000s
In January 2005, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) helped Mitsubishi Motors with a large amount of money. This was an emergency rescue with other Mitsubishi companies. MHI bought more shares, making Mitsubishi Motors part of their group again. This rescue happened after some problems in Japan. Mitsubishi Motors was accused of not reporting some issues with their cars. This led to many cars being recalled.
Joining the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
In May 2016, Nissan started to buy a 34% share in Mitsubishi Motors. This made Nissan the biggest owner of Mitsubishi. It also made Mitsubishi Motors a part of the Renault–Nissan Alliance. Nissan said they plan to share car designs and work together to make new cars with Mitsubishi Motors. Nissan finished buying the shares in October 2016. Carlos Ghosn, who was the head of Nissan and Renault, also became the head of Mitsubishi.
Mitsubishi Motors plans to stop making its own car designs for the Japanese market around 2026. Instead, they will use car designs made by their partner, Nissan.
Other Partnerships
Colt and Lonsdale (1974–1984)
The name "Colt" has been used a lot in Mitsubishi's history. Today, it's a small car called the Mitsubishi Colt. But it's also the name of Mitsubishi's company in the United Kingdom, called the Colt Car Company. This company started in 1974. For the first ten years, their cars were sold as "Colt" cars in Britain, not "Mitsubishi."
In 1982 and 1983, Mitsubishi tried to sell an Australian-built car in the UK as the Lonsdale YD41. This was an attempt to get around import rules. But this new brand was not successful.
Hyundai (1975–2003)
The South Korean company Hyundai made its first car, the Hyundai Pony, in 1975. It used Mitsubishi engines and parts. Mitsubishi owned up to 10% of Hyundai for a long time. They sold their last shares in 2003.
Some Hyundai cars were actually Mitsubishi cars with a different name. For example, the 1985 Hyundai Excel was sold in the U.S. as the Mitsubishi Precis. Also, some Mitsubishi models were sold as Hyundai cars, like the Mitsubishi Chariot (as the Hyundai Santamo) and the Mitsubishi Pajero (as the Hyundai Galloper).
Samcor (1985–1991)
Samcor was a company in South Africa that made cars for Ford, Mazda, and Mitsubishi. For example, the Mitsubishi Delica was sold as the Ford Husky minibus.
Proton (1985–2010)
The Malaysian company Proton relied a lot on Mitsubishi Motors at first. Their first car, the 1985 Proton Saga, was built using mostly Mitsubishi parts. Later models like the Wira and Perdana were based on Mitsubishi cars. Mitsubishi ended their partnership in 2005. But in 2008, Proton and Mitsubishi started working together again. The Proton Inspira was based on the Mitsubishi Lancer.
Volvo Cars (1991–2012)
Mitsubishi worked with Volvo and the Dutch government in a factory in the Netherlands. This factory, called NedCar, started making the Mitsubishi Carisma and the Volvo S40/V40 in 1996. Later, it made the Mitsubishi Colt and the Smart Forfour. The factory also made Mitsubishi Outlanders until 2012. Then, Mitsubishi sold the factory.
Suzuki (1991–2019)
In Indonesia, Mitsubishi sold a small truck called the Mitsubishi Colt T120SS. It was based on the Suzuki Carry. Mitsubishi also sold the Suzuki APV as the Mitsubishi Maven. In Japan, Mitsubishi sold the Suzuki Solio as the Delica D:2 and the Suzuki Every as the Minicab.
Groupe PSA (1999–2011)
Mitsubishi has worked with Groupe PSA (a French car company) since 1999. They worked together on diesel engines. In 2005, they worked together again to make SUVs like the Peugeot 4007 and Citroën C-Crosser. These were based on Mitsubishi's Mitsubishi Outlander.
They also started a factory together in Russia in 2008. This factory makes SUVs for the Russian market. They also worked on electric cars together.
Volkswagen (2004–2010)
In Europe, Mitsubishi Motors used diesel engines from Volkswagen for some of its cars. These included the Lancer, Grandis, and Outlander. After 2010, Mitsubishi started using its own diesel engines.
Chinese Joint Ventures (2006–present)
Since 2006, Mitsubishi has worked with several Chinese companies to make cars and engines.
Nissan (2010–2016)
In 2010, Mitsubishi and Nissan agreed to work together to make small "kei cars" for the Japanese market. They formed a company called "NMKV Co., Ltd."
Renault–Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance (2016–present)
In 2016, Nissan found that Mitsubishi's fuel-efficiency numbers were not correct. This affected many cars made by NMKV. Because of this, Nissan bought a controlling share in Mitsubishi.
Now, Groupe Renault helps supply Mitsubishi in Europe. For example, the Renault Clio and Renault Captur are sold as the Colt and ASX by Mitsubishi.
How Mitsubishi Sells Cars in Japan
Mitsubishi Motors used to have two different ways to sell cars in Japan. They were called "Car Plaza" and "Galant Shop." Certain car models were only sold at one place. But now, they have combined these sales channels into one. This one place sells all models, including small "kei cars" and delivery vehicles.
Past Challenges
Economic Problems in Asia
Mitsubishi had done very well in Southeast Asia. But then, there was an economic crisis in the region. This started in 1991 and continued into 1997. In September 1997, Mitsubishi closed its factory in Thailand because people stopped buying cars there. Mitsubishi also had fewer sales in Japan.
Other Japanese car makers like Toyota and Honda did well in the U.S. market. But Mitsubishi had a smaller share of the American market. So, the problems in Asia affected Mitsubishi more. In 1997, Mitsubishi had its worst financial losses ever. It also lost its spot as the third-largest car maker in Japan.
In November 1997, Katsuhiko Kawasoe became the new president. He planned to cut costs and make the company profitable again. But sales were still slow. In 1999, Mitsubishi had to skip paying dividends to its shareholders. The company had a lot of debt.
Vehicle Issues and Recalls
Mitsubishi had to admit that it had problems with its vehicles. In 2000, four issues were made public. Then in 2004, Mitsubishi said there were 26 more issues going back to 1977. These included problems with brakes and fuel leaks. This caused a lot of trouble for the company. They had to recall many cars for free repairs.
More recalls by Fuso Truck and Bus meant that almost one million vehicles needed repairs. This situation led to the president, Kawasoe, leaving his job.
"0–0–0" Sales Offer
In the early 2000s, Mitsubishi tried to sell more cars in the U.S. by offering a special deal. It was called "0–0–0." This meant 0% down payment, 0% interest, and $0 monthly payments for the first 12 months. At first, sales went up a lot. But after 12 months, many buyers could not pay back their loans. This left Mitsubishi with used cars that they had not been paid for. This caused big financial losses for Mitsubishi. As a result, car sales dropped a lot in the following years.
End of Production in Australia
In October 2005, Mitsubishi launched the Mitsubishi 380 in Australia. This car was made at their factory in Clovelly Park. But sales were not as good as they hoped. Mitsubishi had to slow down production. On February 5, 2008, Mitsubishi Motors Australia announced they would close their factory in Adelaide by the end of March. This meant that many jobs would be lost.
End of Production in Western Europe
Mitsubishi had financial losses in Europe. So, in February 2012, Mitsubishi decided to stop making cars in Western Europe by the end of 2012. On October 1, they announced that a Dutch company called VDL Groep had taken over the NedCar factory from Mitsubishi. They kept all 1,500 employees.
End of Production in North America
In 1988, Mitsubishi opened a factory in Normal, Illinois, in the United States. It was first a joint venture with Chrysler. But Chrysler sold its part of the factory to Mitsubishi in 1993. At its busiest in 2000, the factory made over 222,000 vehicles each year. But sales went down in North America.
In July 2015, Mitsubishi announced that it would close the plant by November. They would still sell cars in North America. Production at the factory ended on November 30, 2015. Most of the employees lost their jobs. The factory fully closed in May 2016.
Leaving the UK Market
Mitsubishi announced that it would leave the UK car market by Autumn 2021. This was for financial reasons. After that, Mitsubishi's presence in Britain would only be for after-sales service (like repairs and parts).
Plans for the Future
After not having much new investment, Mitsubishi released the Mitsubishi i in 2006. This was their first new car in over two years. They also released a new Outlander model to compete in the popular SUV market. New versions of the Lancer and Lancer Evolution came out in 2007 and 2008.
Mitsubishi stopped selling cars that were not selling well in the U.S. They also cut 10,000 jobs to save money. To make more cars at their U.S. factory, they looked for new places to sell cars like Ukraine, the Middle East, and Russia. Mitsubishi also started making cars for other companies like Nissan and Groupe PSA.
Mitsubishi made a profit again in the third quarter of 2006. They continued to be profitable and sold 1,524,000 cars worldwide in 2007 and later.
In January 2011, the company announced plans to make eight hybrid and electric cars by 2015. They aimed to sell their first two plug-in hybrid cars by 2012.
In May 2016, Nissan announced they would buy a controlling share of Mitsubishi Motors. Nissan said they did not plan big changes for Mitsubishi Motors. They expected to share technologies and car designs between the two companies.
Leadership
Mitsubishi Motors has had several leaders over the years. In 2014, Tetsuro Aikawa became the president. He was the first president in over ten years who had worked his whole career at Mitsubishi. His work was mostly in developing new cars. Osamu Masuko, the president before him, joined the company in 2004. Takao Kato has been the president since 2020.
Electric Cars
Mitsubishi Motors started selling its i MiEV to regular customers in summer 2009. This is a small electric car with a special battery under its floor. They started selling it a year earlier than planned. The company also plans to offer five other electric-powered vehicles.
Motorsport and Racing
Mitsubishi has been involved in international motorsport for almost 50 years. They started with street races in the early 1960s. Then, they became very good at off-road racing. They won many endurance rallies in the 1970s. They also won the Dakar Rally many times starting in the 1980s. And they won many World Rally Championship races in the 1990s. Ralliart was Mitsubishi's racing part of the company. However, the company stopped racing officially in 2010.
Circuit Racing
Mitsubishi first raced cars in 1962. They entered their Mitsubishi 500 Super DeLuxe in the Macau Grand Prix. They wanted to help sell their first car made after the war. Their small car won the top four spots in its category. The next year, they came back with their new Mitsubishi Colt 600 and won the top three spots in their class. In 1966, Mitsubishi won the top three spots in the "750–1000 cc" class of the 1964 Japanese Grand Prix with the Colt 1000. This was their first racing car with the engine in the front.
The company then started focusing on "formula car" races from 1966. They won races in 1967 and 1968. They also finished in the top three in 1969 and 1970. They ended their circuit racing with a big win in the 1971 Japan Grand Prix.
Off-road Racing
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The East African Safari Rally was a very tough race in the 1970s. Mitsubishi made the Lancer 1600 GSR especially for this long race. They won on their first try in 1974. Their best moment was winning the top three spots in 1976. In that race, only 20% of the cars usually finished. They also won the top four spots in the 1973 Southern Cross Rally. This was the first of four wins in a row for them in this race.
In the 1980s, Mitsubishi kept racing in the World Rally Championship (WRC). They first used the Lancer EX2000 Turbo and the Starion. Then, they won races with the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 in the late 1980s. Mitsubishi then made the Lancer Evolution. With driver Tommi Mäkinen, they won the drivers' title four years in a row (1996–1999). They also won the manufacturers' championship in 1998. They have won 34 WRC events since 1973. The Lancer Evo has also been very successful in championships for cars that are ready to be sold.
Mitsubishi is also the most successful car maker in the history of the Dakar Rally. Mitsubishi first entered in 1983 with their new Pajero. They won in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, and then seven years in a row from 2001 to 2007. This is a record! They have won 12 times overall with nine different drivers.
Partnership with Jackie Chan
Mitsubishi has worked with actor Jackie Chan for 30 years. He has used their cars in almost all of his movies. The Jackie Chan Cup is a car race held every year. It started in 1984. Famous people and journalists from Asia race in Mitsubishis. This race used to be held before the Macau Grand Prix. In September 2005, Ralliart, Mitsubishi's racing part, made 50 special Jackie Chan Edition versions of the Lancer Evo IX. Jackie Chan is also an honorary director for Team Ralliart China.
Where Mitsubishi Operates
| Top 10 Mitsubishi Motors vehicle sales by country, 2018 |
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| Rank | Location | Vehicle sales |
| 1 |  Indonesia |
146,805 |
| 2 |  China |
139,856 |
| 3 |  United States |
118,075 |
| 4 |  Japan |
104,611 |
| 5 |  Australia |
84,826 |
| 6 |  Thailand |
84,560 |
| 7 |  Philippines |
65,894 |
| 8 |  Germany |
52,196 |
| 9 |  Russia |
45,391 |
| 10 |  United Kingdom |
30,952 |
Mitsubishi has factories that make vehicles in Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. They also have 12 factories that they own with other companies. In Brazil, they have an agreement with a local group to make cars. Mitsubishi also has three more factories that make engines and transmissions. They have five research and development centers. Their vehicles are made, put together, or sold in more than 160 countries around the world.
Research, Design, and Offices
Japan
- Minato, Tokyo: Main Office and Tokyo Design Studio
- Okazaki, Aichi: Car Research & Development Center
- Uzumasa, Ukyō, Kyoto: Car Research and Development Center
- Hokkaidō: Car Research & Development Center, Tokachi Proving Ground
- Mitsubishi Auto Gallery (三菱オートギャラリー), 1, Nakashinkiri, Okazaki
Worldwide
- Trebur, Hessen, Germany: Mitsubishi Motor R&D of Europe GmbH (MRDE)
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States: Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc. (MRDA) Main Office
- Cypress, California, United States: Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc. (MRDA) Research and Design Center
Car Production Factories
Japan
- Okazaki, Aichi: Okazaki Plant (used to be Nagoya Plant)
- Kurashiki, Okayama: Mizushima Vehicle & Powertrain Plant
- Uzumasa, Ukyō, Kyoto: Powertrain plant
- Koka, Shiga: Powertrain plant
Worldwide
- Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines: Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC)
- Calamba, Laguna, Philippines: Asian Transmission Corp. (ATC)
- Laem Chabang, Thailand: Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MMTh)
- Laem Chabang, Thailand: MMTh Engine Co., Ltd. (MEC)
- Cikarang, West Java, Indonesia: PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (MMKI)
- Di An, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam: Mitsubishi Motors Vietnam Co., Ltd. (MMV)
- Catalão, Brazil: MMC Automotores do Brasil Ltda
Former Production Factories
- Sakahogi, Gifu: Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Closed in 2021.
- China: South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd. (SEM). Mitsubishi sold its 25% share in 2021.
- Tonsley Park, South Australia, Australia (1981–2008)
- Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia: PT. Krama Yudha Kesuma Motor (KKM), 1981–2005.
- Born, Netherlands: Netherlands Car B.V. (NedCar), shares sold in 2012 to VDL Groep.
- Normal, Illinois, United States: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc (MMNA). Opened in 1988, closed in 2015. Sold to Rivian in 2017.
- China: GAC Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd. (GMMC)
- Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela: (MMC Automotriz S.A.) Opened in 1990, sold to Grupo Sylca (also known as Grupo Yammine) in 2015.
- Kaluga, Russia: Peugeot Citroën Mitsubishi Automotiv Rus (PCMA Rus), a joint company with PSA Peugeot Citroën, stopped making cars in April 2022.
Company Leaders
- Yuji Sato (1970–1973)
- Tomio Kubo (1973–1979)
- Yoshitoshi Sone (1979–1981)
- Masao Suzuki (1981–1983)
- Toyoo Tate (1983–1989)
- Hirokazu Nakamura (1989–1995)
- Nobuhisa Tsukamura (1995–1996)
- Takemune Kimura (1996–1997)
- Katsuhiko Kawasoe (1997–2000)
- Takashi Sonobe (2000–2002)
- Rolf Eckrodt (2002–2004)
- Yoichiro Okazaki (2004)
- Hideyasu Tagaya (2004–2005)
- Osamu Masuko (2005–2020)
- Takao Kato (2020–present)
See also
In Spanish: Mitsubishi Motors para niños
- Urawa Red Diamonds (a football club linked to Mitsubishi)
- Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. (another football club linked to Mitsubishi)
- Automotive industry in Japan (how cars are made in Japan)
