#

MITSUBISHI MOTORS COMPANY HISTORY

Mitsubishi Motors' automotive story begins in 1917 when the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding CO., LTD. introduced its very first car, the Mitsubishi Model A. Experience Mitsubishi Motors' innovation story for yourself below.

100 Years of Automotive Experience

1917 Model A

Designed as a luxury vehicle for government officials, the Mitsubishi Model A becomes the first mass-production car in Japanese history.

1962 Macau Grand Prix

Mitsubishi Motors wins its first entry into an international motorsports event and immediately sets a track record with the Mitsubishi 500 Super Deluxe. It's also the first vehicle to be aerodynamically tested in a wind tunnel in Japan.

1970

1970 Electric Vehicle Technology

EV research and development begins, setting the stage for Mitsubishi Motors to be the first automaker to mass market an electric vehicle.

1970 Colt Galant GTO

Born from the five-time Grand Prix-winning Colt F Series, the new Galant GTO launches in Japan and eventually leads to the iconic Lancer Evolution.

1971 Dodge Colt

Mitsubishi Motors sells its first car in the United States, rebadged as the Dodge Colt.

1971 Colt F2000

The Colt F2000 Formula race car, engineered with aerospace technology, wins Mitsubishi Motors' sixth Grand Prix title.

1973 Lancer 1600GSR

In the Lancer 1600GSR's debut year, it dominates the Australian Southern Cross rally with a First-Second-Third-place sweep, garnering Mitsubishi Motors' fourth rally title overall.

1976 Silent Shaft Technology

Mitsubishi Motors develops breakthrough Silent Shaft engine technology and licences the patents to Porsche® , Saab® and Fiat®.

1980

1980 Turbocharged Diesel

Mitsubishi Motors engineers the world's first energy-saving Turbo Diesel engine with Silent Shaft Technology.

1982 Debuts in the United States

The Mitsubishi Motors marquee is introduced in the United States with the launch of the Tredia, Cordia and Starion models.

1983 Dakar™ Rally

The Montero (Pajero) makes endurance race history by winning the triple crown in its first appearance at the Paris-Dakar™ Rally, widely considered the world's toughest race.

1987 Galant VR-4

The Galant VR-4 is the first vehicle to feature an Active Electronically Controlled Suspension (ECS) and receives Mitsubishi Motors' first Car of the Year award in Japan.

1989 MotorTrend Car of the Year

The Galant VR-4 wins both the WRC 1000 Lakes and RAC Rallies and is named MotorTrend Magazine's Import Car of the Year.

1990

1990 Traction Control System

Mitsubishi Motors designs the world's first electronically controlled Traction Control System, which would later become a legally required safety feature in many countries, including Canada and the United States.

1990 3000GT

Mitsubishi Motors launches the iconic 3000GT (GTO) with groundbreaking technology that includes a high-performance full-time AWD, four-wheel steering, electronically-controlled suspension and active aerodynamics. MotorTrend Magazine names the 3000GT VR-4 its Import Car of the Year for 1991.

1990 Eclipse

The Eclipse debuts in the United States with a turbocharged 4G63 engine and all-wheel drive technology and makes Car and Driver's 10 Best List from 1989 through 1992.

1992 Technology of the Year

The Automotive Researchers' and Journalists' Conference of Japan (RJC) names the Adaptive Shift Control in Mitsubishi Motors' INVEC System as Technology of the Year.

1992 Lancer Evolution

The iconic Lancer Evolution launches and goes on to win several World Rally Championship, track racing and hill climb titles.

1992 MIVEC Technology

Mitsubishi Motors introduces next-generation Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control (MIVEC) engine technology that maximizes engine performance while maintaining fuel efficiency.

1996 GDI

Mitsubishi Motors leads the development of environmentally friendly engineering by launching the world's first Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine.

1998 WRC Championship

Tommi Makinen wins a record four consecutive WRC Drivers’ Championships from 1996 to 1999 while Mitsubishi claims the WRC Manufacturers’ Championship in 1998, all with multiple generations of the Lancer Evolution.

1998 Year in Racing

Mitsubishi Motors' banner year in racing includes Montero's domination of the Dakar™ Rally with a top-four sweep, an FIA World Class Cup Cross-Country Rally win and Lancer Evolution's victory in the WRC.

1999 World Record

The FTO-EV prototype earns a Guinness World Record by being the first electric car to travel 2,000 km in 24 hours, beating the previous record by 300 km.

2000

2002 Canadian Debut

Mitsubishi Motors launches in Canada with dealerships across the country from Vancouver to St. John’s.

2004 Canadian 10-Year Warranty

Mitsubishi Motors launches its unprecedented 10-year/160,000 km Powertrain Limited Warranty in Canada.

2005 Eclipse 4th Gen

The 4th-generation Eclipse, based on the Eclipse Concept E, earns a 2005 Industry Design Excellence Award.

2005 Outlander

The launch of the Outlander marks the world's first compact SUV to offer an environmentally friendly PZEV V6 engine, reaffirming Mitsubishi Motors' dedication to pioneering green technology.

2007 12th Dakar™ Championship

Mitsubishi Motors sets a record for seven straight Dakar™ Rally wins; its twelfth championship overall.

2008 Lancer Evolution

The legendary Lancer Evolution arrives in Canada equipped with a host of engineering breakthroughs, including Super All-Wheel Control.

2008 Drive@Earth

Mitsubishi Motors proudly announces Drive@Earth, a pledge to create vehicles that can exist in harmony with people, society and the environment. This effort combines the power of EV, PHEV and other emissions-reducing technologies with corporate initiatives designed to preserve and sustain the global environment.

2009 i-MiEV

After more than 40 years of development and many awards, the production version of the 2010 Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle (i-MiEV) is launched to multiple markets worldwide.

2010

2010 PX-MiEV

The PX-MiEV concept vehicle is revealed to the public. Powered by Mitsubishi Motors' all-new plug-in hybrid system, PX-MiEV employs both series and parallel hybrid technologies to maximize on-road performance while minimizing emissions and fuel consumption.

2012 i-MiEV arrives in Canada

The i-MiEV launches in Canada and is recognized by Natural Resources Canada as the country’s most fuel-efficient subcompact car, leading the way in EV technology.

2012 Mitsubishi Motors Celebrates its 10th Anniversary in Canada

This year marks Mitsubishi Motors' 10th year in Canada.

2013 Outlander PHEV

Mitsubishi Motors releases the Outlander PHEV, the world's first Plug in Hybrid SUV, winning the RJC Technology of the Year Award and Car of the Year's Innovation Award in Japan.

2014 MiEV Evolution III

The MiEV Evolution III wins first and second place in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb's EV prototype division, beating the previous course record by more than 30 seconds.

2015 Baja Portalegre 500

Mitsubishi Motors tests its EV and Twin-Motor 4WD technologies in the Baja Portalegre 500, setting the fastest time in three out of five segments, all using the Outlander PHEV.

2017 Outlander PHEV Canadian Debut

Mitsubishi introduces the Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) to the Canadian lineup and it receives a "Best 5 All-Around Performance" award from the Automotive Science Group (ASG).

2017 The Next 100 Years

After 100 years of automotive engineering and accomplishments, Mitsubishi Motors is setting its sights on the next generation of EV and connected car technology.

2018 A Classic Reborn

The well-loved Eclipse moniker makes a comeback in the form of a technology-based crossover, the Eclipse Cross, which goes on to win a prestigious GOOD DESIGN™ award for Design Excellence and Design Innovation from The Chicago Athenaeum.

2020

2021 A New Flagship is Born

The 2022 Outlander launches in Canada. It is the best-equipped, most-connected vehicle the company has ever sold in Canada.

2022 20th Anniversary in Canada

This year marks Mitsubishi Motors' 20th year in Canada.