Mitsubishi Logo History

Few car badges are as instantly recognizable as Mitsubishi’s three red diamonds. But the logo’s roots go back over 150 years, long before Mitsubishi ever built a car, and the design carries more meaning than most shoppers realize.

What Does the Mitsubishi Logo Mean?

The three diamonds represent three of Mitsubishi’s core values:

• Integrity — doing business the right way, consistently
• Success — a commitment to achievement and quality
• Reliability — the dependability the brand wants every vehicle to reflect

The bold red color was chosen to convey passion, power, and vitality, while the black wordmark alongside it is meant to project strength and professionalism.

Where Does the Mitsubishi Name Come From?

“Mitsubishi” combines two Japanese words: mitsu, meaning “three,” and hishi, referring to a water chestnut whose shape resembles a diamond or rhombus, hence “three diamonds.” The emblem itself is actually a blend of two family crests: the three-stacked-rhombus crest of the Iwasaki family, who founded and led the company, and the three-oak-leaf crest of the Tosa clan, who the founder once served. Combine the shapes of both, and you get the diamond emblem still in use today.

How the Mitsubishi Logo Has Changed Over Time

• 1870 — The Original Crests: Mitsubishi’s earliest mark simply combined the Tosa and Iwasaki family crests, with no wordmark or color.
• 1873 — Red Arrives: The company introduced red into the design for the first time, with three thin rhomboid shapes connected by a small circle at the center.
• Early 1900s — A Bolder Center: The connecting circle became a solid point, and versions of the mark began appearing alongside Japanese-character wordmarks.
• 1964 — Thicker, Bolder Diamonds: The diamonds became thick, solid red shapes on a white background, with some versions carrying the tagline “with you today and tomorrow.”
• 1985 — The Modern Mark: The design still in use today debuted: three bold red diamonds separated by clean white triangles, paired with a bold, uppercase black wordmark.

Why the Logo Changes Matter for Shoppers

Mitsubishi’s logo has barely changed in the last forty years, and that’s by design. Rather than chasing trends, the company has kept its emblem a stable symbol of reliability, the same quality it builds into vehicles like the Outlander, Outlander Sport, and Mirage. A brand that’s confident enough to leave a 150-year-old mark alone is a brand that’s confident in what it stands for.

Have More Mitsubishi Questions?

If you want to see what those three diamonds stand for in person, stop by and take a look at our current Mitsubishi inventory, or contact our sales team with any questions. We’re happy to walk you through which model fits your needs.