Mitsubishi New car showroom

Automotive was just one of the industrial sectors covered by what became a vast Mitsubishi organisation founded by Yataro Iwasaki. The Model A (based on the Fiat Tipo 3) was Japan’s first series-produced car in 1917, though Mitsubishi cars didn’t truly take off until the ’60s with models such as the 500, Minica and Colt 600. A 1970 tie-up with Chrysler would 10 years later see Mitsubishi Motors Australia formed after taking over the US brand’s local operations. The Magna large car sold from 1985 to 2005 was the first all-new locally made Mitsubishi before the production plug was pulled here in 2008. Two of the brand’s biggest nameplates are the Lancer and Pajero, both of which became part of motorsport folklore after their endeavours in rallying – the Lancer Evolution dominating the world rally championship in the late-’90s, and the Pajero to date still the most successful vehicle to compete in the gruelling Paris-Dakar.