More than 1,500 first-shift employees cheered the two millionth car assembled at Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. (MMMA) on Thursday as the silver 2001 Eclipse GT was driven off the assembly line by company president Hirao Iijima and International UAW representative Mark Haasis.

Iijima told employees that all the cars produced by MMMA, since the first cars rolled off the line in September 1988, would stretch four deep from the factory’s location in Normal, Illinois to Mitsubishi Motor Sales’ head office in Cypress, California and 18 deep from Normal to Detroit. “The scale of our achievement is wonderful,” Iijima said.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


From 1998 to 2000, MMMA’s production increased 40 percent to 222,000 vehicles, breaking the previous record set in 1995. Hours per vehicle, an industry measurement of productivity, improved 42 percent in 2000 over 1998 levels.


In addition, sales of the Mitsubishi Galant, Eclipse coupe and Eclipse Spyder convertible made at MMMA increased 57 percent from 1998 to 2000. Overall, sales for all Mitsubishi products in the United States increased 65 percent during this period.


In November 2000, MMMA broke ground for a building expansion to accommodate production of the 2004 model-year successor to the Montero Sport SUV, currently made in Japan, which will begin mass production at MMMA in January 2003.


“It took the MMMA team more than seven years to build the first million cars,” said Gilligan, “and about five years to build the second million. Our growth and the addition of new product should bring us to the three and four million marks even more rapidly.”

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

During its history the plant has endured a scandal over sexual harassment of female employees which led to legal action.


The 2,000,000th vehicle will be on display in Mitsubishi Motors’ exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show beginning February 10. The car will be given away in a promotion.


MMMA TIMELINE



  • October 1985, Diamond-Star Motors was incorporated as a joint venture of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Chrysler Corporation.
  • April 1986, ground broken for the auto assembly plant in Normal, Illinois. Construction of the 1.9 million square foot facility, with an annual production capacity of 240,000 vehicles, was completed in March 1988.
  • Diamond-Star Motors simultaneously launched its first two mass production vehicles in September 1988: the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Plymouth Laser.
  • In 1989, 90,741 vehicles were produced. A second production shift and a third shift for engineering and maintenance were added in May 1989.
  • In 1991, MMC purchased Chrysler’s 50 percent share and the plant became a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC. On July 1, 1995, Diamond-Star Motors was renamed Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc.
  • In October 1995, MMMA celebrated the one-millionth vehicle — which was the first Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible. It was also the 10th anniversary of incorporation.
  • The plant has had three expansions since 1988; the most recent was in November 2000 when groundbreaking occurred for a 170,000 square foot expansion to stamping and body shops to accommodate the new sport utility to be built at MMMA in 2003 (2004 model year). Upon completion of this expansion, square footage will be 2.5 million.
  • Rich Gilligan joined MMMA in December 1998 as executive vice president and chief operating officer and began a restructuring and turnaround of plant operations.

MODELS PRODUCED AT THE PLANT SINCE 1988:



  • Mitsubishi Eclipse (first produced in 1988 and currently produced)
  • Plymouth Laser (1988-1994)
  • Mitsubishi Mirage (1989-1992)
  • Eagle Talon (1989-1998)
  • Eagle Summit (1990-1992)
  • Mitsubishi Galant (first produced in 1993 and currently produced)
  • Dodge Avenger (1994 -2000)
  • Chrysler Sebring coupe (first produced in 1994 and currently produced)
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible (first produced in 1995 and currently produced)
  • Dodge Stratus (first produced in 2000 and currently produced)