20th March 2024 – Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is celebrating its 50th year of trading in 2024 and is marking the anniversary with a calendar of events planned to honour the brand and its heritage.
The 50th anniversary year kicked off in February at the annual Mitsubishi Motors in the UK Aftersales Conference. The event brought together all 110 Mitsubishi aftersales dealers across the UK, with special recognition going to Tees Valley Motors and Devonshire Motors, who were recognised with long-service awards for 20 years and 35 years respectively and Fields Mitsubishi and Grays of Holbeach who have represented the brand for an amazing 45 years.
Across the whole of 2024, the 50th anniversary will be commemorated via the brand’s social media channels as well as a host of dealer events taking place. On 21 September, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK and its customers will further honour the brand’s long-established heritage with the 50th Anniversary Rally. Bringing together owners and enthusiasts from across the UK, the rally will start at the headquarters of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, traverse the Cotswolds and culminate at Badminton House in Gloucestershire, home to the Badminton Horse Trials, a former long-standing and recognisable partner of the brand.
From 8-10 November, it is planned that Mitsubishi Motors will be present at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham in conjunction with Stephen Blackburn, former Main Board and Aftersales Director, with some of the classic Mitsubishi vehicles owned by him.
In September 2021, following Mitsubishi Motors’ decision to withdraw from new vehicle sales in the UK and parts of Europe, the company transitioned to an aftersales only focussed business as part of the IM Group, supporting customers via its 110 dedicated dealerships, with servicing, parts, warranty repairs and all other aftersales care.
The Colt Car Company, known as Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, first entered the UK vehicle market in 1974, under the joint ownership, of Mitsubishi Corporation and David Blackburn. The company was run by a very small team in a four-room office at Dollar Street in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, before moving to larger premises in nearby Spitalgate Lane. In 1981 following considerable growth, the company constructed new purpose-built premises at Watermoor in Cirencester, which was opened in March 1983 and has been home to the business ever since.
