Intro: As with a number of Far Eastern car producers, Mitsubishi Motors grew off the back of a heavy industrial business base in Japan. It started building cars in 1917, but they were few in number and not particularly interesting. So, as with a lot of Japanese car makers, it was not until 1959 before full series car production commenced. Initially, the company started with mini-cars. However, in 1963, Mitsubishi was making US Jeeps under licence. The company grew quickly and by the mid-1970s, the Chrysler Corporation had acquired a small stake in the firm. In need of compact models, Chrysler simply rebadged Mitsubishi models for the North American market. Of course, having produced Jeeps, Mitsubishi’s 4x4 knowledge was helped and it started to develop its own Pajero range. Yet, it was as a manufacturer of technically complex motor cars that Mitsubishi gained the most recognition. Its rally cars over the past fifteen years have been startlingly brilliant and have awarded the company several Wwrld title victories. In 1991 Chrysler was hit by the recession and sold back its stake to Mitsubishi. For various reasons, Mitsubishi floundered without a major partner and in 1999, the newly-formed DaimlerChrysler company rescued Mitsubishi from its downward tumble into an under-funded and ignominious demise.
In 2001, Rolf Eckrodt joined Mitsubishi top management from DaimlerChrysler of Germany.
In April, 2004 DCX decided to pull out from Mitsubishi. The Japanese company which was beset by quality scandals still survives with help from other members of the Mitsubishi empire. |
