Did Mitsubishi take over Chrysler?
No. Mitsubishi did not take over Chrysler.
What happened instead is a history of collaborations and a series of corporate reorganizations that reshaped Chrysler over the years, while Mitsubishi Motors remained an independent company. The result is often misinterpreted as a takeover, but Mitsubishi never gained control of Chrysler.
Historical context: Mitsubishi and Chrysler's collaboration
The most visible chapter of their partnership was a joint venture formed in the 1980s to produce sportier, affordable cars in the United States. The arrangement, known as Diamond-Star Motors, was a 50/50 venture that produced several well-known models at a plant in Normal, Illinois.
- 1980s-1990s: Diamond-Star Motors (DSM) joint venture established between Chrysler and Mitsubishi; produced models such as the Eclipse and related vehicles in the United States.
- 1998: Chrysler merges with Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler; Mitsubishi is not part of this merger and does not gain control of Chrysler.
- 2007: DaimlerChrysler sells Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management; Chrysler becomes independent of Daimler, while Mitsubishi remains separate.
- 2014: Fiat S.p.A. acquires Chrysler Group, creating Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA); Mitsubishi is not a shareholder in Chrysler under FCA.
- 2021: FCA merges with PSA Group to form Stellantis; Chrysler Brand remains within Stellantis, while Mitsubishi Motors continues as an independent automaker.
Before diving into the milestones, here is a concise timeline of the collaboration and related ownership changes that affected Chrysler over time.
The collaboration between Chrysler and Mitsubishi represents a strategic partnership and shared production history, not a takeover. The subsequent corporate reshuffles involved other owners and alliances, but Mitsubishi did not gain control of Chrysler.
Corporate ownership and structural shifts affecting Chrysler
Over the years, Chrysler’s ownership moved through several major corporate reorganizations that reshaped its identity within the global auto industry. This section outlines how Chrysler’s governance changed, without implying a Mitsubishi takeover.
- 1998: Chrysler merges with Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler AG; Mitsubishi is not involved in this merger, and control over Chrysler does not pass to Mitsubishi.
- 2007: DaimlerChrysler sells Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management; Chrysler becomes privately held under Cerberus, separate from Daimler.
- 2014: Fiat S.p.A. acquires Chrysler Group, forming Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA); Chrysler becomes part of FCA, aligning with Fiat brands and operations.
- 2021: FCA merges with Peugeot SA (PSA) to create Stellantis; Chrysler remains a core brand within Stellantis, while Mitsubishi Motors stays independently run.
These entries highlight the parent-company transitions that defined Chrysler’s trajectory in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
These ownership transitions show a complex, multi-party evolution of Chrysler, but they do not constitute a Mitsubishi takeover of Chrysler.
Current status and takeaway
As of the latest available information, Mitsubishi Motors operates as an independent automaker, and Chrysler is a brand within Stellantis. The two companies have a shared history and occasional collaboration, but no instance exists in which Mitsubishi took control of Chrysler, or vice versa.
Summary
The notion that Mitsubishi took over Chrysler is a misconception. The two companies did collaborate historically through the Diamond-Star Motors joint venture, but Chrysler never came under Mitsubishi’s control. Over the years, Chrysler’s ownership shifted through alliances and mergers with Daimler, Cerberus, Fiat, and Stellantis, while Mitsubishi remained independently managed. Today, Chrysler is part of Stellantis, and Mitsubishi operates as a separate automaker.
