Mitsubishi Logo

Brand History

The Mitsubishi Story

Mitsubishi traces its roots to a shipping company founded in 1870 by Yataro Iwasaki, whose three-diamond emblem combines elements of the Iwasaki family crest and the crest of the Tosa clan. The group built Japan's first series-production car, the Model A, in 1917, and Mitsubishi Motors was spun off as a dedicated carmaker in 1970. It became known for rally-bred models such as the Lancer Evolution and rugged SUVs like the Pajero, and joined the Renault-Nissan Alliance in 2016 after Nissan took a controlling stake.

Logo History

Evolution Of The Mitsubishi Logo

1. 1870s–present

   The three-diamond mark predates the car business, combining the Iwasaki family's three-tiered water chestnut crest with the three-leaf crest of the Tosa clan; the name Mitsubishi itself means 'three diamonds'. The red three-diamond emblem has remained essentially unchanged on Mitsubishi vehicles, varying mainly in color treatment and refinement.

Model Evolution

Mitsubishi Through The Years

7 milestone models from 1917 to 2001.

1917

1960

1969

1973

1982

1992

2001