"It’s really about the people, it’s not about the vehicle," the local UAW president said.
About 800 employees cheered the three millionth car assembled at Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) as a rally red 2010 Eclipse GT was driven off the assembly line in Normal, Illinois recently.
The Eclipse was destined for a dealership somewhere in the Midwest, and was not retained for historical purposes.
The plant started assembling cars in September 1988 as a joint venture between Chrysler Corporation and MMNA, which now fully owns the plant.
MMNA president & CEO Shin Kurihara congratulated employees on their accomplishment and shared memories of his visit to the site of the then-future assembly plant when he visited the vacant field in 1985. “How could I have imagined that I would be here as President almost 25 years and three million vehicles later,” he said.
UAW Local 2488 President Ralph Timan expressed thanks and congratulations to the union’s membership and MMNA. “It’s really about the people, it’s not about the vehicle,” Timan said. “It’s the commitment we’ve made to facility and the car is just a symbol of that. It’s a marker of that continued commitment.”
MMNA History
- 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 1991, MMC purchased Chrysler’s 50% share and the plant became a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC.
- In October 1995, Mitsubishi Motors celebrated production in Normal of the one-millionth vehicle – which was the first Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible. It was also the 10th anniversary of incorporation.
- In February 2001, MMNA celebrated production of its two-millionth vehicle.
Vehicles Produced at MMNA
- Plymouth Laser (1988-1994)
- Mitsubishi Mirage (1989-1992)
- Eagle Talon (1989-1998)
- Eagle Summit (1990-1992)
- Dodge Avenger (1994 -2000)
- Chrysler Sebring coupe (1994 -2005)
- Dodge Stratus coupe (2000 -2005)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse (first produced in 1988 and currently produced)
- Mitsubishi Galant (first produced in 1993 and currently produced)
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder convertible (first produced in 1995 and currently produced)
- Mitsubishi Endeavor (first produced in 2002 and currently produced)