NEWS: Mitsubishi Motors relocating North American headquarters to Tennessee

Mitsubishi Motors is relocating their North American headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee. The move was announced by Tennessee governor Bill Lee today. The change of address is expected to strengthen Mitsubishi’s tie-up with Nissan, which moved to Franklin in 2006.

Since 1988, Mitsubishi Motors North America has called Cypress, California its home. Located about 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles, it was deep inside the epicenter of custom car culture and the import scene. It follows Nissan’s 2006 relocation and Toyota’s move to Texas in 2014. This is perhaps one reason why the annual Mitsubishi Owners Day event was canceled for 2019.

“While traveling in Japan last week, [Tennessee Governor Bill] Lee and I met with Mitsubishi’s global executives to convince them why Tennessee is the ideal place for the company to conduct business,” said the state’s Economic and Community Development commissioner Bob Rolfe.

According to Tennessee governor Bill Lee, Mitsubishi will bring 200 jobs and $18.25 million in investments to Williamson County. It will also allow Mitsubishi to leverage its proximity to Nissan “in areas of procurement, development and cost efficiencies,” as stated by the press release.

Mitsubishi says the transition will begin in August and be completed by the end of 2019. It will affect “all departments,” says the press release, “including sales, marketing, IT, human resources, communications, parts and services, product planning, dealer operations, finance and legal.”

“Mitsubishi Motors is changing the way we go to market in the United States, and it is leading to a rebirth of the company,” said MMNA president and CEO Fred Diaz, “This is an exciting time for us, with a refreshed leadership team, new-look dealerships and redesigned and all-new vehicles. As we drive toward the future, this is the perfect time for us to move to a new home.”

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13 Responses to NEWS: Mitsubishi Motors relocating North American headquarters to Tennessee

  1. Does MMNA have a heritage collection?

    Asking for my boss.

    • Ben Hsu says:

      Not really. There is a collection in Japan, and they used to bring 1-2 cars here per year, but that was pre-GFC. Nowadays, the only car to speak of is that horrid West Coast Customs collab.

      • iceman510 says:

        The factory in Illinois had quite a few cars, mostly Eclipses, since that was the only facility that ever built it. I don’t know what became of them as I left there about 2 years before they closed.

        Mitsubishi US has never had much grasp (as a corporate organization, not individuals) of the heritage aspect of Japanese cars.

  2. Long Beach Mike says:

    Good Bye, OC.
    Hello Grand Ole Opry.

  3. JR says:

    Another company Taxed out of California, Way to go Gavin, Sanctuary governor.

    • nlpnt says:

      I suspect it has a lot less to do with California than with Mitsubishi now effectively being a division of Nissan. I’m surprised they’re moving 200 jobs, rather than piling MMNA’s functions on people who already work at Nissan.

  4. Mark Newton-John says:

    Not surprised. Lower costs of living, lower taxes, of course they are leaving California.

  5. Bob says:

    This article says nothing about taxes and more about Mitsubishi moving to be closer to mom. My family came to California from Franklin about 90 years ago, so I found Nissan’s choice of relocation spots to be pretty interesting. I wonder if Mitsubishi got a tax holiday as well.

  6. Howard Dreispan says:

    Great! Far away from the custom car culture, and yet another goof ball move that includes not making sports cars anymore; calling a CUV an “Eclipse”; and the future SUV: an “Evo”, and that ‘can’ they call a “Mirage”? ! Why am I not surprised? I take comfort in being the original owner of: 1989 Starion SHP, 2006 Evo IX-MR, and an Outlander Sport-Limited Edition. I’ve been a Mitsubishi/RALLIART item collector since 1985. This is so disheartening! RIP…

    • Troy says:

      It’s very sad what Mitsubishi focuses on these days. Hopefully, when Mitsubishi starts making successful regular cars again they may get back into making sports cars. And wow I can’t believe you own a ’89 Starion since they only made around 160. I have a 87′ ESi-R myself.

  7. Clay says:

    Interesting. A few years ago when they were hiring they would not interview you unless you already lived in California. Now those people will have to move or quit.

  8. Troy says:

    It’s very sad what Mitsubishi focuses on these days. Hopefully, when Mitsubishi starts making successful regular cars again they may get back into making sports cars. And wow I can’t believe you own a ’89 Starion since they only made around 160. I have a 87′ ESi-R myself.

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