
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan, and was established in 1980. The company began manufacturing vehicles in Australia in the same year, taking over the facilities of Chrysler Australia. However, in 2008, Mitsubishi Motors Australia ceased local production and became an exclusive vehicle importer. Today, the company offers a range of vehicles in Australia, including SUVs, Utes, and hybrids, with a focus on performance, reliability, and innovative technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) | A fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan |
| Year of establishment | 1980 |
| Beginning of vehicle manufacturing | 1980 |
| Headquarters | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Mitsubishi's first car manufactured in Australia | Valiant |
| Year of Valiant's manufacture | 1981 |
| Mitsubishi's second car manufactured in Australia | Sigma |
| Year of Sigma's manufacture | 1977 |
| Mitsubishi's third car manufactured in Australia | Colt |
| Year of Colt's manufacture | 1982 |
| Year Mitsubishi ceased manufacturing in Australia | 2008 |
| Mitsubishi's current role in Australia | Vehicle importer |
| Mitsubishi's popular models in Australia | Outlander, ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, and Triton |
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What You'll Learn
- Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan
- MMAL was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing that same year
- Australian production ceased in 2008, and the company became a vehicle importer
- The Mitsubishi Magna was the most significant vehicle introduced by Mitsubishi Australia
- Mitsubishi offers Australia's first 10-year new car warranty

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. It was established in 1980 when the Japanese automaker bought out Chrysler Australia for $79.4 million (approximately $371 million when adjusted for inflation). With the purchase of Chrysler's plants in South Australia, Mitsubishi became the third Japanese carmaker to build its own vehicles in Australia, after Toyota and Nissan.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia began vehicle manufacturing in 1980, producing the Valiant and the Sigma, which were initially Chrysler-branded vehicles based on Mitsubishi designs. The Valiant was the largest Mitsubishi passenger car, measuring five metres in length and featuring a powerful V8 engine. The Magna, introduced later, was also a significant success for Mitsubishi Australia. Marketed as a "new class of car", it offered similar performance to the Holden Commodore but with a smaller size to fit into a lower tax bracket in the Japanese market.
In 2003, MMAL received approval from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to establish Mitsubishi Research and Development Australia (MRDAus) with a budget of $30 million. MRDAus was intended to be the fourth global Mitsubishi Research and Development Centre, tasked with completing Mitsubishi 380 Testing and Proving. However, due to financial difficulties faced by the parent company, MRDAus was unable to reach its full potential.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia ceased vehicle manufacturing in 2008 and has since focused exclusively on importing vehicles. Despite this, the company continues to have a presence in the Australian market, offering a range of vehicles such as the Outlander, ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, and Triton. Mitsubishi Australia provides a 10-year warranty and capped-price servicing, setting it apart from other automotive manufacturers in the country.
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MMAL was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing that same year
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) was established in 1980 as a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. That same year, MMAL began vehicle manufacturing in Australia, having taken over the facilities of Chrysler Australia. The Japanese automaker bought out Chrysler Australia for $79.4 million, which equates to around $371 million when accounting for inflation.
The purchase of Chrysler's local operations was part of a wider rescue package for the American automaker, which saw Mitsubishi supply vehicles to Chrysler in the US on favourable terms. With the acquisition of Chrysler's plants in South Australia, Mitsubishi became the third Japanese carmaker to build its own vehicles in Australia, after Toyota and Nissan. The three Japanese brands controlled 46% of the Australian new car market after the Chrysler sale, narrowly ahead of the 42% combined share owned by Holden and Ford.
After the acquisition of a 15% interest in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation by parent company Chrysler in 1971, Chrysler Australia began building Mitsubishi-designed Chrysler-branded vehicles, including the Chrysler Valiant Galant (later the Chrysler Galant) and the Chrysler Sigma. The Valiant, which was produced by Mitsubishi in 1981, was the largest Mitsubishi passenger car. It had a V8 engine with a power of 5.2 litres, as well as two straight-six engines with a power of 4.0 litres.
MMAL ended 2004 with approximately 4,000 unsold Magnas and Veradas. To restore consumer confidence and clear the model backlog, a series of television advertisements featuring Mitsubishi Australia's then Chief Executive Officer, Tom Phillips, were aired in December 2004. The campaign promoted the introduction of an industry-first five-year/130,000-kilometre warranty, with the tagline, "If you can find a better-built, better-backed car anywhere, then buy it". The campaign successfully boosted sales and allowed MMAL to clear the backlog.
Australian production by MMAL ceased in 2008, and since then, the company has exclusively imported vehicles.
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Australian production ceased in 2008, and the company became a vehicle importer
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) was established in 1980 and began manufacturing vehicles in the country that year. The company was formed when Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan acquired Chrysler Australia. Mitsubishi took over the construction of a vehicle assembly plant at Tonsley Park, which had been commenced by Chrysler in 1963 and opened in October 1964.
In 1971, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation was partially acquired by Chrysler, which subsequently began building Mitsubishi-designed Chrysler-branded vehicles in Australia. These included the Chrysler Valiant Galant (later the Chrysler Galant), based on the 1972-1977 Mitsubishi Galant, and the Chrysler Sigma, a variant of the 1977-1985 Mitsubishi Galant.
Mitsubishi Australia also introduced the Magna, a family sedan known as the Galant in Japan, which was a huge success. The Magna was engineered to be smaller than 1700mm wide to fit into a lower tax bracket in its home market. However, by making the Magna 80mm wider than the Galant, Mitsubishi Australia was able to compete with both Japanese and Holden competitors.
In 2003, MMAL gained approval to create Mitsubishi Research and Development Australia (MRDAus) with a budget of $30 million. MRDAus was intended to be the fourth global Mitsubishi Research and Development Centre, and it was tasked with completing Mitsubishi 380 Testing and Proving prior to the start of volume production. Unfortunately, due to financial issues facing the parent company, MMC, and the cancellation of the PS41L program, MRDAus was unable to reach its full potential.
On February 5, 2008, it was announced that MMAL would cease production of the 380 at the Tonsley Park plant, effective at the end of March 2008. The decision was made to pursue a full import strategy for the Australian market due to unviable 380 sales. The last Mitsubishi 380 sedan rolled off the production line on March 27, 2008, marking the end of Mitsubishi's vehicle manufacturing in Australia. Since then, the company has exclusively imported vehicles into the country.
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The Mitsubishi Magna was the most significant vehicle introduced by Mitsubishi Australia
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. The company was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing in the same year. However, Australian production ceased in 2008, and since then, the company has been exclusively an importer of vehicles.
The Mitsubishi Magna was introduced in Australia in April 1985, initially as a sedan-only model, with a station wagon added to the lineup in June 1987. The Magna was developed as a replacement for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Sigma. It was manufactured at Tonsley Park, South Australia, with its engines produced at the Lonsdale, South Australia plant. The Magna's engine was a 2.6-litre transversely-mounted inline-four-cylinder engine, codenamed 4G54 and marketed as Astron II. This engine was designed with advanced features for its time, such as hydraulic mounts and "Silent Shaft" counterbalancing technology.
The name Magna, derived from the Latin word "magnus" meaning "big", emphasised the size advantage of the Mitsubishi over other medium cars. The width of the vehicle was specifically targeted at Australian buyers, who have traditionally favoured large cars. This strategy was aimed at competing more effectively against large RWD rivals such as the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore.
The Magna underwent a significant re-engineering process in the early 1990s, with the introduction of a larger sedan in April 1991 and a station wagon in May 1992. This second generation inherited the wide-body Japanese Mitsubishi Sigma platform and was based on the sixth-generation Mitsubishi Galant. The Magna remained a popular mainstay for the Mitsubishi brand in Australia between the mid-1980s and the 2000s, with three generations of models.
In conclusion, the Mitsubishi Magna was a significant vehicle for Mitsubishi Australia, offering a unique selling point with its width, targeting Australian consumer preferences. It showcased Australian ingenuity and contributed to the brand's success in the local market, solidifying its position as a popular choice for Australian drivers.
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Mitsubishi offers Australia's first 10-year new car warranty
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. It was established in 1980 and began vehicle manufacturing in the same year. However, Australian production ceased in 2008, and the company has since been exclusively a vehicle importer.
Mitsubishi Motors is a renowned Japanese car manufacturer, globally recognized for its exceptional performance, reliability, and innovative technology. With a broad range of vehicles to choose from, including the popular Outlander, ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, and Triton, Mitsubishi caters to the needs of drivers worldwide.
In 2021, Mitsubishi introduced Australia's first 10-year new car warranty, which is conditional on the vehicle being serviced only by the brand's franchised dealers. This warranty is set to increase from the five or seven years previously offered on selected models to 10 years of coverage across the entire range. The extended coverage applies to vehicles serviced within the Mitsubishi dealer network using the company's fixed-price service program.
The 10-year warranty is part of Mitsubishi's commitment to its customers and sets it apart from other automotive manufacturers. The warranty provides peace of mind and guarantees the integrity and service standards of Mitsubishi vehicles.
In addition to the extended warranty, Mitsubishi also offers 10 years of capped-price servicing and up to four years of roadside assistance for vehicles serviced within the dealer network. This comprehensive package showcases Mitsubishi's dedication to customer satisfaction and confidence in the reliability of its vehicles.
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Frequently asked questions
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan. It was established in 1980 and began manufacturing vehicles in the same year. However, Australian production ceased in 2008, and since then, the company has been exclusively a vehicle importer.
The first car Mitsubishi produced in Australia was the Valiant in 1981. Measuring five metres in length, it was the largest Mitsubishi passenger car.
Other cars produced by Mitsubishi in Australia include the Mitsubishi Sigma (1977), Mitsubishi 380, and the Magna, which was the most significant vehicle introduced by Mitsubishi Australia.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia offers a range of vehicles in Australia, including the Outlander SUV, ASX compact SUV, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, and Triton dual-cab ute. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020 and continues to be a prominent player in the Australian automotive market.
Mitsubishi cars in Australia are known for their advanced safety and entertainment technology, innovative features, and exceptional performance and reliability. The company also offers attractive warranties and servicing deals, such as Australia's first 10-year new car warranty.












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