when did mitsubishi stop making cars

[LeRhett]

Mitsubishi Motors stopped manufacturing cars in the United States in 2015. The final vehicle, an Outlander Sport, rolled off the line at the Normal, Illinois plant in November of that year. This marked the end of the company's 28-year production history in the U.S. While this was a significant shift, Mitsubishi did not completely leave the American market. The brand continues to sell vehicles in the U.S., but the lineup is now comprised entirely of models imported from factories in Japan and Thailand.

The closure of the Illinois plant was primarily driven by years of declining sales and the need for a major global restructuring. The facility itself found a new lease on life; it was acquired by Rivian Automotive, which now produces its electric trucks and SUVs there. For Mitsubishi, the strategic focus shifted away from the competitive U.S. sedan market and toward SUVs and crossovers, as well as stronger growth in Southeast Asia and other global markets.

Key Event	Year	Model(s) Involved	Note
Production Start in Illinois	1988	Mitsubishi Eclipse, Eagle Premier	Joint venture with Chrysler.
Peak Production Year	2000	Eclipse, Galant, Endeavor	Over 200,000 vehicles produced.
Final Model Year for Galant	2012	Galant	Sedan production ended at the plant.
Final Model Year for Eclipse	2012	Eclipse	Sports coupe production ended.
Plant Closure Announcement	July 2015	Outlander Sport	Official decision to cease operations.
Final Vehicle Produced	November 2015	Outlander Sport	Marked end of U.S. manufacturing.
Rivian Acquisition	2017	N/A	Facility repurposed for EV production.

So, if you're looking at a newer Mitsubishi model like the Outlander SUV or the Mirage hatchback in the U.S., it was built overseas. The company's direct manufacturing presence in America concluded nearly a decade ago.

[OElena]

Yeah, that was back in 2015. They shut down their big factory in Illinois. It was a tough time for the brand here, honestly. They just couldn't keep up with sales. It's kind of interesting now though—that same factory is where Rivian builds its electric trucks. Mitsubishi still sells cars here, but they’re all shipped in from other countries.

[StGabriel]

As an enthusiast, it's a memorable date: 2015. The final car built at their Normal, Illinois plant was an Outlander Sport. It really signaled the end of an era for models like the Eclipse and Galant that were built there. The plant's story didn't end, though; it was revived by Rivian for electric vehicle production, which is a cool footnote for automotive history buffs.

[FinleyRose]

From a practical standpoint, Mitsubishi stopped U.S. production in 2015 to cut costs and restructure. This move allowed them to focus on importing vehicles that were selling better, like the Outlander SUV, from their more efficient plants in Japan. For a car buyer today, it means any new Mitsubishi you see on a dealer lot is an import, which can have implications for parts availability and pricing compared to domestically built rivals.

[MaverickMarie]

I remember reading about this when it happened. It was late 2015, and the news was all about the plant closing and the jobs lost. It felt like another big brand pulling back from making cars in America. The interesting twist is what happened after. That empty factory sat for a bit, and then a new electric car company, Rivian, moved in and started building techy trucks there. It's like a symbol of the industry changing.