- Diamond-Star Motors
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For the airport serving Matamoros, Mexico, assigned the ICAO code MMMA, see General Servando Canales International Airport.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) Manufacturing Division Type Subsidiary Industry Automobile manufacturing Founded October 1985 Headquarters 100 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, Normal, Illinois 61761, United States Key people Jerry Berwanger (EVP, COO)
Hideyasu Tagaya (Chairman, MMNA)Employees 1,900 Parent Mitsubishi Motors North America Website MitsubishiManufacturing.com Diamond-Star Motors (commonly abbreviated to DSM) was an automobile-manufacturing joint venture between the Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).[1] The name came from the parent companies' respective logos: three diamonds (Mitsubishi) and a pentastar (Chrysler).[2] 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 since 2002 its official title has been Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) Manufacturing Division.[3]
Three of the vehicles produced by Diamond-Star Motors, the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Talon, and Plymouth Laser, are also commonly referred to as "DSMs".[4]
Contents
Background
The origins of Diamond-Star Motors can be traced back to 1970 when Chrysler Corporation took a 15 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors, as part of MMC's strategy of expansion through alliances with foreign partners. The U.S. company began distributing Mitsubishis as Chrysler-, Dodge- and Plymouth-branded captive imports (e.g. Dodge Colt), a successful venture as the compact cars 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.[5]
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-branded dealerships. A voluntary import quota system was in place at this time, restricting the number of cars Japanese automakers could bring in to the U.S. As the Japanese company began to open its own branded dealerships to sell directly, every imported Cordia, Tredia and Starion sold by Mitsubishi had to be discounted from Chrysler's allocation.[5]
Incorporation
A 1990–94 Eclipse, the first Mitsubishi-badged vehicle built at the Diamond-Star Motors facility.
The ninth generation of the Galant sedan was originally designed and built exclusively for the North American market, and is MMNA's volume seller.In order to circumvent this, the two partners officially incorporated Diamond-Star Motors in October 1985. An incentive package worth US$274 million, and an intense and controversial lobbying effort by state and local government authorities, meant that Illinois won the new auto plant,[6] and in April 1986 ground was broken on a 1,900,000 sq ft (180,000 m2) production facility in the town of Normal. The plant was completed in March 1988, with an annual capacity of 240,000 vehicles.[3] In 1989, the workers at the plant formed United Auto Workers Local 2488, and signed their first contract with the company.[7]
Initially, three models were produced at this facility. The Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon were smaller 2+2 sports cars on a new co-designed platform. Models subsequently produced during the next decade included the Mitsubishi Mirage/Eagle Summit, the Mitsubishi Galant, the Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring, and the Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Cirrus.[8]
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 equity stake, 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 to Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing America (MMMA) on July 1, 1995.[3] Despite the departure, the two companies have maintained various co-operative manufacturing agreements since.
Currently the plant produces vehicles using the American-developed Mitsubishi PS platform, including the current Endeavor, Galant and Eclipse, and exports to 26 countries worldwide. Approximately 1,900 people work in the highly mechanized plant, alongside approximately 1,000 robots. Expansion in 2003 means that it now occupies 2,400,000 sq ft (220,000 m2).[9]
Production
Year 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 113,353 2005 87,791 2006 87,594 2007 78,771 2008 59,018 2009 18,502 2010 29,375 Total to 2010 3,034,672[10] (source: MMNA Production History)
Club DSM - International Diamond Star Motors car club
References
- ^ "Mixing Cultures On the Assembly Line", John Holusha, New York Times, June 5, 1988
- ^ " Business People; Mitsubishi Executive Joins Chrysler Venture", John Holusha, New York Times, June 15, 1991
- ^ a b c History of MMMA, MMMA official website
- ^ "What exactly is a DSM?", DSM.org FAQ Page
- ^ a b History of Mitsubishi, Funding Universe
- ^ Chapman, Margaret L.; Arun P. Elhance, John D. Wenum (1995). Mitsubishi Motors in Illinois. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 129. ISBN 9780899309729. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OGQ4u2gZKxwC&dq.
- ^ "Working Class Voice: Labor Unions in McLean County", Chapter 20: UAW 2488, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly web site
- ^ About the vehicles, MMMA official website
- ^ About the facility, MMMA official website
- ^ "Mitsubishi Motors reaches milestone of 3 million vehicles assembled in U.S.", MMNA Press Release, October 29, 2009
External links
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Manufacturing Division, official website
Chrysler Marques CurrentDefunctAMC (1966–1988) · Commer (1905–1979) · Barreiros (1959–1978) · DeSoto (1928–1961) · Eagle (1988–1998) · Fargo (1920–1972) · Hillman (1907–1976) · Humber (1898–1975) · Imperial (1955–1975, 1981–1983) · Karrier (1908–1977) · Plymouth (1928–2001) · Singer (1905–1970) · Simca (1934–1977) · Sunbeam (1901–1976) · Valiant (1960–1966)
Divisions and
subsidiariesCurrentChrysler Australia · Chrysler Canada · Dodge · Jeep · Mopar · Ram Trucks · Street and Racing Technology (SRT) · Road Track (R/T)DefunctAmerican Motors Corporation (1954–1988) · Chrysler Australia (1951–1981) · Chrysler Europe (1967–1981) · Chrysler-Plymouth · Chrysler UK (1970–1981) · EnviFormerJoint ventures and
alliancesCurrentDefunctPeople Walter Chrysler · Lee Iacocca · C. Robert Kidder · Thomas W. LaSorda · Sergio Marchionne · Louis RhodesPlaces Products Other Big Three · Cerberus Capital Management · Daimler-Chrysler (1998–2007) · Fiat SpA · History (Chapter 11 reorganization)
Categories:- Buildings and structures completed in 1988
- Companies established in 1985
- Mitsubishi Motors factories
- Companies based in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
- Joint ventures
- Motor vehicle assembly plants in Illinois
- Chrysler factories
- U.S. Route 150
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