Mitsubishi was founded in 1870 by Yatarō Iwasaki as a shipping firm using three steamships . The iconic three-diamond logo comes from the Iwasaki family crest (“mitsu” = three) and the Tosa clan emblem (“hishi” = water chestnut/diamond) . In 1917, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding built Japan’s first series-production car, the Model A . Post-WWII, Mitsubishi spun into independent entities; the automotive arm became Mitsubishi Motors in 1970, later joining the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance . Known for the Lancer Evolution, Pajero, and pioneering AWD technology, Mitsubishi blends historical innovation with global reach.