Mitsubishi History:
Mitsubishisautomotive origins date back as far as 1917, when the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. introduced the Model A, Japansfirst series-production automobile. An entirely hand-built seven-seater sedan based on the Fiat Tipo 3, it proved expensive compared to its American and European mass-produced rivals, and was discontinued in 1921 after only 22 had been built. In 1934, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding was merged with the Mitsubishi Aircraft Co., a company established in 1920 to manufacture aircraft engines. The unified company was known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and was the largest private company in Japan. MHI concentrated on manufacturing aircraft, ships, railroad cars and machinery, but in 1937 developed the PX33, a prototype sedan for military use. It was the first Japanese-built passenger car with full-time four-wheel drive, a technology the company would return to almost fifty years later in its quest for motorsport and sales success. Immediately following the end of the Second World War, the company returned to manufacturing vehicles.. However, the zaibatsu (Japansfamily-controlled industrial conglomerates) were ordered to be dismantled by the Allied powers in 1950, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was split into three regional companies, each with an involvement in motor vehicle development: West Japan Heavy-Industries, Central Japan Heavy-Industries, and East Japan Heavy-Industries. They later re-united in 1964 to form Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) was formed on April 22 1970 as a wholly owned subsidiary of MHI under the leadership of Tomio Kubo, a successful engineer from the aircraft division. Through the years, the company had changed hands several times. It has also been affiliated with various auto makers.

Mitsubishi Overview:
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is currently the sixth largest automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world if the numbers of global sale units are considered. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Throughout its history it has courted alliances with foreign partners, a strategy pioneered by their first president Tomio Kubo to encourage expansion, and continued by his successors. A significant stake was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1971 which it held for 22 years, while DaimlerChrysler was a controlling shareholder between 2000 and 2005. Long term joint manufacturing and technology licensing deals with the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea and Proton in Malaysia were also forged, while in Europe the company co-owned the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the Netherlands with Volvo for ten years in the 1990s, before taking sole ownership in 2001.

Other Mitsubishi Details:
Popular models introduced by the company include; 2007 Mitsubishi Raider, 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder , 2008 Mitsubishi Galant , 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution , 2008 Mitsubishi Raider, 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse , 2008 Mitsubishi Endeavor, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer , 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander. The 2007 Raider is a 4-door, up to 5-passenger compact pickup, available in 7 trims, ranging from the LS Extended Cab 2WD MT to the LS Double Cab 4WD V8. The 2008 Eclipse Spyder is a 2-door, 4-passenger convertible or convertible sports car, available in two trims, the GS and the GT. The 2008 Galant is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the DE to the Ralliart. The 2008 Lancer Evolution is a 4-door, 5-passenger sports sedan, available in one trim only, the GSR. The 2008 Raider is a 4-door, up to 6-passenger compact pickup, available in 4 trims, ranging from the LS Extended Cab 2WD MT to the LS Double Cab 4WD V6. The 2008 Eclipse is a 2-door, 4-passenger family coupe, or sports coupe, available in 4 trims, ranging from the GS to the SE-V6. The 2008 Endeavor is a 4-door, 5-passenger sport-utility, available in 4 trims, ranging from the LS 2WD to the SE AWD. The 2008 Lancer is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the DE to the GTS. The 2008 Outlander is a 4-door, up to 7-passenger sport-utility, available in 8 trims, ranging from the ES 2WD to the XLS 4WD.