Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was established in 1970 as the automotive division of the Mitsubishi Group of companies, though it had long been producing vehicles under other guises. This included the hand built Mitsubishi Model A, which in 1917 was Japan’s first series-produced car.

During the 1960s several models were introduced, including the Mitsubishi 500. The success of this car in the 1962 Macau Grand Prix promoted the entire brand and helped boost sales of the subsequent Colt and Galant models.

In 1971 a 15% stake in the company was sold to Chrysler in an attempt to establish the brand worldwide. Dealerships were set up across Europe using  the Colt name and Chrysler introduced the Dodge Colt to the American market. In 1985 the two companies established a plant under the name Diamond Star Motors, though this broke down with Chrysler pulling out in 1993.

Mitsubishi was badly affected by the East Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and was forced to close several factories, its foreign sales not substantial enough to prevent massive losses. A huge scandal over vehicle defects rocked the company, as an exposed cover-up led to the resignation and arrest of its president in 2004. The brand has recently been making a gradual recovery though - cutting costs and scaling back production in a bid to return to profitability.

Since the victory of the Mitsubishi 500 in Macau rallying has been a major part of Mitsubishi’s history. Along with winning several Drivers’ World Rally Championships with the Lancer during the late 1990s the manufacturer has become the most successful in the history of the gruelling Dakar Rally. In 2006 the Mitsubishi Shogun won this event for the sixth consecutive time.

EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Mitsubishi cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Mitsubishi models are shown below.