Just when you thought Mitsubishi was dead (as a car company), it makes a jet plane. Kidding aside, Mitsubishi auto sales have been surprisingly strong despite the death of the iconic Lancer Evo.




http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...r-first-flight

 

Mitsubishi is a huge industrial conglomerate, their auto business is only a portion of their other business interests which include banking, utilities, insurance, steel, etc. Its kind of like General Electric in this country, only I don't think all of their business interests are tied up under one ceo, stock, and board of directors like GE.


Anyways, getting back to aviation, I've always wondered why Boeing hasn't competed in this smaller commuter jet market. They are the 500lb guerrilla in the mid size and large jet market, surely they have the expertise to design/build a smaller scale jet.

 

Mitsubishi is one of those huge, widely-diversified companies that seems to be uniquely Japanese (Toyota is another such company). It has been building airplanes for many years. Remember the Zero fighter of WW2 fame? That was a Mitsubishi aircraft.

Now, it builds jet fighters and helicopters for the Japanese military (some under license, such as the Mitsubishi F-15 fighter). It also builds major components for the Boeing 777 and 787.

This new Mitsubishi Regional Jet is built by a subsidiary that is 90% owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 10% owned by Toyota Motor Corporation.

 

Mitsubishi can claim (legitimately) to be involved in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Automobiles we know about.

Planes we know about.

It also builds components for electric trains and (I believe) builds light-rapid transit (LRT) systems (1-step down from full subways) also.

 

You can add ships and cameras to that. Mitsubishi started out as a shipping firm in 1870. It also owns Nikon.

And yes, the Zero fighter plane of the Imperial Japanese navy in WW2 was a Mitsubishi product.

 

Boeing has commented that they don't think there is much money to be made in the regionals. There is a lot of competition, and margins on regionals are far less than planes in the 150+ seat market.

 

You also have Honda, with the HondaJet (corporate jet). Pretty cool if a bit awkward looking.

http://www.hondajet.com/

Toyota took a stab at a small jet as well. Have a friend/coworker who worked on it down in Torrance. Aviation is tough, and Toyota changed their minds about entering it.

 

does it come with vtec?

 

No, but you should see their nav system.

 

It comes with SH-AWD (super handling all wing drive).

 

Cost extra? Bet that's an option right? Jerks....

 

Can you buy the badges and stick them on the nacelle and next to the passenger door? The would have to be vinyl decals though, to prevent bad aerodynamic effects.

 

Unlike Toyota, Mitsu is real conglomerate... my A/C at home is built by Mitsu.

 

Man, they should first concentrate on making a quality product before diversifying. Most of their business ventures are half assed.

 

LMAO. I can't believe the infotainment system in the new NSX, it does not aspire to be part of the 170k exotic looking car.