{{short description|Automobile-manufacturing joint venture}} {{For|the airport serving [[Matamoros, Tamaulipas|Matamoros, Mexico]], assigned the ICAO code MMMA|General Servando Canales International Airport}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox company | name = Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Manufacturing Division | former_names = {{plainlist| * Diamond-Star Motors (1985–1995) * Mitsubishi Motors North America (2002–2016) }} | logo = [[File:Mitsubishi logo.svg|70px]][[File:ChryPly Blue Pentastar.svg|70px]]<br>[[File:Diamond-starmotorslogo.png|200px]] | image = | image_caption = | type = [[Joint venture]] | fate = Chrysler sold its equity stake to Mitsubishi in 1993, which became the sole owner | foundation = October 1985 | founders = [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corp.]]<br>[[Mitsubishi Motors]] | defunct = {{end date and age|2015|11}} | location = 100 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, [[Normal, Illinois]] 61761, United States | key_people = Jerry Berwanger ''(EVP, COO)''<br>Hideyasu Tagaya ''(Chairman, MMNA)'' | industry = [[automotive industry|Automotive]] | products = [[car|Automobiles]] | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = 1,900 | owner = Chrysler<br>(1985–1993)<br>Mitsubishi Motors<br> (1985–2016) <br>Rivian<br> (2017-Present) | parent = [[Mitsubishi Motors North America|Mitsubishi North America]] | subsid = | brands = {{plainlist| * [[Chrysler (brand)|Chrysler]] * [[Dodge]] * [[Eagle (automobile)|Eagle]] * [[Mitsubishi]] * [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] }} | homepage = | footnotes = }}
'''Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Manufacturing Division''' (originally, '''Diamond-Star Motors''') was an [[car|automobile]]-manufacturing [[joint venture]] between the [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] and [[Mitsubishi Motors]].<ref name="nyt88">[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/05/business/mixing-cultures-on-the-assembly-line.html "Mixing Cultures On the Assembly Line"], John Holusha, ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 5, 1988</ref> The name came from the parent companies' respective [[logo]]s: three ''diamonds'' (Mitsubishi) and a penta''star'' (Chrysler).<ref name="nyt91">[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/15/business/business-people-mitsubishi-executive-joins-chrysler-venture.html " Business People; Mitsubishi Executive Joins Chrysler Venture"], John Holusha, ''The New York Times'', June 15, 1991</ref>
Diamond-Star Motors was officially renamed "Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc." (MMMA) in 1995, four years after Mitsubishi took sole control of the plant, and from 2002 to 2016 its official name had been "Mitsubishi Motors North America", Inc.", and "Manufacturing Division".<ref name="history">[http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/history/index.asp History of MMMA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117105954/http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/history/index.asp |date=2007-01-17 }}, MMMA official website</ref>
In the automotive enthusiast community, ''DSM'', especially used in the singular (e.g. ''a DSM'') generally refers to the original first- and second-generation [[Mitsubishi Eclipse]], [[Eagle Talon]], and [[Plymouth Laser]], which all shared the same Diamond-Star Motors [[vehicle platform]].
In January 2017, [[Rivian]] acquired the plant and its manufacturing contents for $16 million, as its primary North American manufacturing facility.
== History ==
===Background=== The origins of Diamond-Star Motors can be traced back to 1970 when Chrysler took a 15 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors, as part of MMC's strategy of expansion through [[Business alliance|alliances]] with foreign partners. The U.S. company began distributing Mitsubishis as [[Chrysler (brand)|Chrysler]]-, [[Dodge]]-, and [[Plymouth automobile|Plymouth]]-branded [[captive import]]s (e.g. [[Dodge Colt]]), a successful venture as the [[compact car]]s met consumer demand for smaller and more [[fuel-efficient]] vehicles in the 1970s, filling a gap at the bottom of the Chrysler group's range.<ref name="fund">[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Mitsubishi-Motors-Corporation-Company-History.html History of Mitsubishi], Funding Universe</ref>
By 1982, Chrysler was importing 110,000 Mitsubishis annually. However, a minor conflict was forming as the Japanese now wanted to sell directly through their own-[[brand]]ed dealerships. A voluntary [[import quota]] system was in place at this time, restricting the number of cars Japanese [[automaker]]s could bring into the U.S. As the Japanese company began to open its own branded dealerships to sell directly, every imported [[Mitsubishi Cordia|Cordia]], [[Mitsubishi Tredia|Tredia]], and [[Mitsubishi Starion|Starion]] sold by Mitsubishi had to be discounted from Chrysler's allocation.<ref name="fund"/> Another point of contention was that Chrysler had the right of first refusal of any Mitsubishi automobiles in the US market until 1990.<ref name=Ward83>{{citation | title = Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1983 | volume = 45 | date = May 1983 | editor-first = Harry A. | editor-last = Stark | publisher = Ward's Communications | location = Detroit, MI | isbn = 0-910589-00-3 | page = 150 }}</ref>
=== Incorporation === [[file:90-91 Mitsubishi Eclipse.jpg|thumb|left|A 1990–91 [[Mitsubishi Eclipse|Eclipse]], the first Mitsubishi-badged vehicle built at the Diamond-Star Motors facility]] In order to circumvent this, the two partners officially incorporated Diamond-Star Motors in October 1985. An incentive package worth [[US dollar|US$]]274 million, and an intense and controversial lobbying effort by state and local government authorities, meant that [[Illinois]] won the new auto plant,<ref name="illinois">{{cite book | last = Chapman | first = Margaret L. |author2=Arun P. Elhance |author3=John D. Wenum | title = Mitsubishi Motors in Illinois | publisher = Greenwood Publishing Group | date = 1995 | pages = 129 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=OGQ4u2gZKxwC | isbn = 978-0-89930-972-9 }}</ref> and in April 1986 ground was broken on a {{convert|1900000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} production facility in the town of [[Normal, Illinois|Normal]]. The plant was completed in March 1988, with an annual capacity of 240,000 vehicles.<ref name="history"/> In 1989, the workers at the plant formed [[United Auto Workers]] Local 2488, and signed their first contract with the company.<ref>[http://www.bntrades.org/news.php?id=20 "Working Class Voice: Labor Unions in McLean County"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917215933/http://bntrades.org/news.php?id=20 |date=2010-09-17 }}, Chapter 20: UAW 2488, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly web site</ref>
[[file:04-06 Mitsubishi Galant.jpg|thumb|The ninth generation of the [[Mitsubishi Galant|Galant]] sedan was originally designed and built exclusively for the North American market, and was MMMA's volume seller.]] Initially, three models were produced at this facility. The [[Mitsubishi Eclipse]], [[Plymouth Laser]], and [[Eagle Talon]] were smaller [[2+2 (car body style)|2+2]] sports cars on a new co-designed platform. Models subsequently produced during the next decade included the [[Mitsubishi Mirage]]/[[Dodge Colt|Dodge/Plymouth Colt]]/[[Eagle Summit]] sedans, the [[Mitsubishi Galant]], the [[Dodge Avenger|Dodge Avenger Coupe]]/[[Chrysler Sebring|Chrysler Sebring Coupe]], and the [[Dodge Stratus|Dodge Stratus Coupe]].<ref>[http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/vehicles/index.asp About the vehicles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021023044529/http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/vehicles/index.asp |date=2002-10-23 }}, MMMA official website</ref>
===Departure of Chrysler=== Initially Diamond-Star Motors was a 50-50 [[joint venture]] between Chrysler and Mitsubishi. However, in 1991 the Japanese company purchased its partner's interest, and thereafter the manufacture of Chrysler vehicles was on a contractual basis. Chrysler sold its equity stake to Mitsubishi in 1993, and Diamond-Star Motors was renamed Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing America (MMMA) on July 1, 1995.<ref name="history"/> Despite the departure, the two companies have maintained various co-operative manufacturing agreements since and considered all vehicle produced until 1995<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.allpar.com/history/mitsubishi.html | title=Mitsubishi and Diamond-Star Motors }}</ref> as Diamond-Star Motors.
Formerly, the plant produced vehicles using the American-developed [[Mitsubishi PS platform]], including the [[Mitsubishi Endeavor|Endeavor]], [[Mitsubishi Galant|Galant]], and [[Mitsubishi Eclipse|Eclipse]]. An expansion in 2003 enlarged the plant to {{convert|2400000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/facility/index.asp About the facility] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120907145605/http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/facility/index.asp |date=2012-09-07 }}, MMMA official website</ref> In mid-2012, the plant began producing the [[Mitsubishi ASX]] which is sold in United States as the Outlander Sport. Approximately 1,900 people worked in the highly mechanized plant, alongside approximately 1,000 robots.
===Closure and sale of the plant to Rivian === In July 2015, Mitsubishi announced that it would end production at the plant in [[Normal, Illinois|Normal]]. The plant had been operating well below capacity for several years. In 2014, it produced just over 61,000 vehicles out of a capacity of 240,000 vehicles annually. Production would shift to Japan, with Mitsubishi importing all vehicles sold in North America. Mitsubishi said it would try to sell the plant to preserve jobs, but that the plant would be closed by November if no buyer was found.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20150727/OEM01/307279955/mitsubishi-throws-in-towel-on-fading-era | title=Mitsubishi throws in towel on fading era | date=2015-07-29}}</ref> Ultimately a buyer was not found in time, and production ended on the 30th of November. Most of the workers (900 out of 1200) were let go on that date, with the rest staying to build replacement parts until the final closure of the plant in May 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Union-workers-say-goodbye-to-27-years-at-Mitsubishi-plant-359076501.html | title=Union workers say goodbye to 27 years at Mitsubishi plant | date=2015-11-30 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202174548/http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Union-workers-say-goodbye-to-27-years-at-Mitsubishi-plant-359076501.html | archive-date=2015-12-02 }}</ref> Eventually the plant was sold to Maynards Industries, an auctioning and liquidation firm, with ownership to transfer June 1, 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pekintimes.com/article/20160430/NEWS/160439995 | title=Mitsubishi plant sold | access-date=2016-05-18}}</ref>
In January 2017, [[Rivian]] acquired the plant and its manufacturing contents for $16 million, as Rivian's primary North American manufacturing facility.<ref name="Electrek_A" /><ref name="PJ1" /><ref name="Prenzler" /><ref name="Ayre">{{cite news |last1=Ayre |first1=James |date=March 25, 2017 |title=Rivian Automotive (Stealth EV Startup) Granted $49.5 Million in Tax Credits From Illinois, Governor Announces |website=[[cleantechnica.com]] |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2017/03/25/rivian-automotive-stealth-ev-startup-granted-49-5-million-tax-credits-illinois-governor-announces/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201182614/https://cleantechnica.com/2017/03/25/rivian-automotive-stealth-ev-startup-granted-49-5-million-tax-credits-illinois-governor-announces/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> Rivian's acquisition of an almost production-ready facility instead of building a new factory was likened to Tesla's acquisition of the [[NUMMI]] plant in California.<ref name="Ayre" /><ref name="Prenzler" />
==Production== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:10em" | Year ! style="width:15em" | Vehicles |- | 1988 | 2,206 |- | 1989 | 90,609 |- | 1990 | 148,532 |- | 1991 | 153,526 |- | 1992 | 140,156 |- | 1993 | 135,610 |- | 1994 | 170,318 |- | 1995 | 218,507 |- | 1996 | 193,013 |- | 1997 | 189,023 |- | 1998 | 157,364 |- |1999 |162,199 |- |2000 |222,414 |- |2001 |193,780 |- |2002 |204,234 |- |2003 |173,872 |- |2004 |113,253 |- |2005 |87,791 |- |2006 |92,499 |- |2007 |78,771 |- |2008 |59,018 |- |2009 |18,502 |- |2010 |29,375 |- |2011 |31,114 |- |2012 |47,837 |- |2013 |69,766 |- |2014 |61,974 |- |2015 |38,186 |- ! Total ! 3,283,449 |}
{{Refbegin|}} ''(source: [https://archive.today/20130103193811/http://www.mitsubishimanufacturing.com/about/production/index.asp MMNA Production History] and [https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/content/dam/com/ir_en/pdf/fact/2016/fact_2016.pdf Facts and Figures 2016])'' {{Refend}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Coord|40|30|32|N|89|3|16|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark|display=title}} {{Mitsubishi Motors companies}} {{Chrysler LLC}} {{Automotive assembly plants in the United States}} {{Automotive industry in the United States}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1988]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1985]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2015]] [[Category:Mitsubishi Motors factories]] [[Category:Companies based in Bloomington–Normal]] [[Category:Former joint ventures]] [[Category:Motor vehicle assembly plants in Illinois]] [[Category:Chrysler factories]] [[Category:1985 establishments in Illinois]] [[Category:2015 disestablishments in Illinois]] [[Category:Normal, Illinois]]