Mitsubishi Motors had actually been selling vehicles in the U.S. prior to 1981, but not under its own company name. Through a partnership with Chrysler Corporation, the company's cars were sold with Dodge or Plymouth branding on them. But in 1981, the company created a formal presence for itself as Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., with vehicles sold through an initial dealer network of 70 facilities across the country.
