Although Mitsubishi Motors did not begin until the ‘70s, its car-making past dates back to 1917. During this time, a shipbuilding company called Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. decided to venture into the automotive industry with Model A, incidentally Japan’s first series-production automobile. Upon discovery that this could not compete with more affordable American and European makes, production was discontinued in 1921 and the dream of success with automobiles was temporarily shelved. Three different companies - Central Japan Heavy-Industries, West Japan Heavy-Industries, and East Japan Heavy-Industries - began their foray into the manufacture of automobiles in the ‘50s and the ‘60s. Before long, they all joined together to form Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which in 1970 decided to create one specific operation focused on car-making, thus the birth of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. More than three rich and colorful decades later, Mitsubishi is now an established name in the global automobile market.