'Diamond Star' year: Mitsubishi Motors celebrates 60 years in the Philippines

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) celebrated its 60th anniversary in the country with a ceremony at its plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation president and CEO Takao Kato also flew in to attend the event, expressing his gratitude to the Philippine government, MMPC employees and the brand’s 70 suppliers and 25 dealer groups for all the support extended to the company.

“I’m very happy to celebrate MMPC’s 60th anniversary as well as witness its strong performance, as MMPC has been one of the biggest automobile brands in the Philippines," he said in a speech.

"I am also pleased and proud that Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation is the only car manufacturer which has never left the country since its founding, even during the economic crisis and contributed to the economic development of the country for over 60 years," Kato added. 

Kato also said Mitsubishi Motors will maintain its commitment to the Philippines through local manufacturing and providing "attractive" models to customers.

Meanwhile, MMPC president and CEO Takeshi Hara noted how the carmaker has successfully introduced a diverse model lineup for Filipino buyers.

"With our attractive models, we are continuously satisfying our valued customers and live up to our slogan “Life Made Better for Filipinos,"" he said.

Other special guests for this milestone were:

• Santa Rosa mayor Arlene Arcillas
• Philippine Economic Zone Authority Zone Manager Mary Jane Sanchez
• Mitsubishi Suppliers Association president Edwin Gallor
• Other MMPC and Mitsubishi Motors executives

60 years of Mitsubishi

For six decades, the automaker has continued to grow its presence in the country and has evolved into a mobility-providing brand for Filipinos. 

Based on data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., MMPC has the second-largest market share in the country, behind Toyota Motor Philippines.

Through the years, MMPC has brought many remarkable vehicles to the country, such as the Mitsubishi Lancer, Adventure and Pajero, which still have a big following.

It even brought household names like the Mitsubishi L300, which has proven to be a reliable and versatile commercial vehicle for the masses. 

Fast forward to the present and the brand has new vehicles that have become crowd favorites, such as the Mirage, Mirage G4, Strada, Xpander, Xpander Cross, Montero Sport and Outlander PHEV.

Cheers to more years

MMPC said in a February 2023 press statement that is "committed to serving Filipinos with its dedication to enriching customers’ lives by continuously refining technologies and introducing attractive models to the market."

The brand also plans to expand its dealership network by continuously developing and making a mark in different places in the country. As of press time, it has 69 dealerships across the country.

“The Philippines has been and will be one of the most important markets for Mitsubishi Motors," Kato said.

"Through our manufacturing and sales operations, we will continue to contribute to the transfer of technology, human resources development, and creation of jobs in the country,” he added.

Cheers to more years, Mitsubishi Philippines!

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