Did Dodge own Mitsubishi?
No. Dodge did not own Mitsubishi. The two brands have never operated as parent and subsidiary. Over the years, they’ve intersected through collaborations and cross-ownership within larger corporate structures, but Mitsubishi Motors has always remained an independent company separate from the Dodge brand.
Background: how the relationship developed
To understand ownership, it helps to trace the broader corporate relationships that connected Dodge (and its parent brands) with Mitsubishi Motors. The core point is that ownership did not reside with Dodge itself; instead, Dodge participated in alliances and cross-shareholdings at various times within the Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, and later Stellantis groupings.
- During the 1980s and 1990s, Chrysler—include the Dodge brand—entered into a cooperative relationship with Mitsubishi Motors, which included manufacturing collaborations and the badge engineering of Mitsubishi-sourced models sold under Dodge and Plymouth names in the United States.
- After Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler in 1998, Mitsubishi Motors remained part of a broader strategic alliance with the European and American automakers, including continued collaboration on development and production.
- In the mid-2000s, DaimlerChrysler gradually reduced its stake in Mitsubishi Motors, and the cross-ownership was phased out, returning Mitsubishi Motors to standalone corporate status under its own management.
- Following the 2009 restructuring of Chrysler into a Fiat-led group and the 2021 formation of Stellantis, Dodge (as a brand within Stellantis) does not own Mitsubishi Motors, and Mitsubishi Motors remains independently controlled by the Mitsubishi Group.
Conclusion: The connection between Dodge and Mitsubishi was practical and collaborative rather than ownership-based, and it dissolved as corporate structures evolved. The current arrangement has Dodge under Stellantis and Mitsubishi Motors operating independently.
Current status and takeaways
As of the latest corporate landscape, Dodge is a brand under Stellantis, the multinational automaker formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Peugeot S.A. Mitsubishi Motors is a separate Japanese automaker aligned with the Mitsubishi Group. There is no ongoing ownership link between Dodge and Mitsubishi Motors.
Key points to remember
The historical ties were about alliances and cross-shareholdings, not ownership. Dodge did not own Mitsubishi, and Mitsubishi Motors has not been owned by Dodge or Stellantis. The relationship has evolved with the broader realignment of the global auto industry through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
Summary
In the long arc of automotive history, Dodge and Mitsubishi have intersected through collaboration and shared projects, but never through a parent-brand ownership arrangement. The Dodge brand is part of Stellantis, while Mitsubishi Motors continues as an independent company within the Mitsubishi Group. The past alliances illustrate how cross-border automotive partnerships can influence product offerings without creating ownership ties.
