[updated 09/15/17 ]
Preface: This is one of my favorite things.
I have been driving Mitsubishis—almost exclusively—since 1996. The things I’ve learned along the way, the people I’ve met (around the world)—my life is better because of Mitsubishi. I’m card-carrying Mitsubishi fan boy and I’ll never apologize for that.
You’ll find no semi-literate ranting about the death of the nearly 40-year old Sirius or ill-informed criticism of the Lancer Evolution’s retirement on this website. It’s 2017, the Evo III has been on the podium at Pike’s Peak several times, and that’s technology I’m looking forward to daily driving in a few years—on both tarmac and gravel.
Mitsubishi stands for something. Say what you will about their current crop of models, the emissions scandal (automotive Inflate-gate?), or Nissan’s Chronicles of Riddick-style takeover, this is a company with a mission. And I believe in that mission.
So it was important to me that, after pulling nearly 800 posts back behind the curtain on this site as part of the reboot, I updated and republished this one ASAP.
What follows is Mitsubishi’s Three Principles—Mitsubishi’s DNA. I came across it a long time ago and it’s stuck with me ever since. In many ways, Gearbox Magazine shares the ideals contained below. It was the first real post published on Gearbox Magazine, way back in 2009.
HISTORY
Mitsubishi’s fourth president, Koyata Iwasaki, is credited with drafting three core principles which would become known as “Mitsubishi’s DNA.” These principles are at the heart of all Mitsubishi Group companies and represent their open business philosophy.
As Mitsubishi enthusiasts, we share these principles. Here they are, along with our parallels.
Shoki Hoko | Corporate responsibility to society.
“Strive to enrich society, both materially and spiritually, while contirbuting toward the preservation of the global environment.”
Mitsubishi believes commerce is a public process and that companies should work towards furthering interests of the host nations in which they do business. In order to achieve sustainable prosperity, Mitsubishi feels a company should operate to benefit society.
GBXM | Our responsibility to society.
“Strive to enrich gearheads, both materially and intellectually, while contributing toward the preservation of global automotive culture.”
Cars are fast becoming appliances. I don’t want to see cars become the next iPhone—ridiculously overpriced, locked into dealer networks, replaced every year as a sycophantic fashion accessory. These are the tools of the motoring class. We own them. We maintain them. We improve them.
Our responsibility is to people who own and love their machines. We’re here to celebrate success, share the lessons learned from failure, and champion gearheads’ rights as best we can.
Shoji Komei | Integrity and fairness.
“Maintain principles of transparency and openess, conducting business with integrity and fairness.”
President Koyata cautioned Mitsubishi managers against focusing only on the numbers, instead aiming to always be regarded as a highly ethical corporation. He frequently reminded them of the need to meet customer expectations with high ethical standards in all business transactions.
GBXM | Integrity and fairness.
“Ditto.”
Always put the gearhead first. We’re here to tell stories that matter. If we can make any money doing that, we will, but never at the expense of our brothers and sisters in arms. We’ll be providing subscribers with an annual report. “Here’s what we made. Here’s what we spent it on.”
We give everyone the benefit of the doubt (integrity, fairness, after all), but have no tolerance for bullshit or lies (aka: “alternative facts”).
Ritsugyo Boeki | Global understanding through business.
“Expand business, based on an all-encompassing global perspective.”
When World War II broke out, Mitsubishi was actively doing business with a number of US and UK companies. President Koyata boldly stated, about the friendships had in those business relationships, that once the war was over, and peace returned, that those friendships would still be in place.
GBXM | Global understanding through automotive travel.
“Unite the automotive community around all-encompassing, global perspectives.
One of the best things about being a gearhead is knowing you’ve got family all over the world. We’ve experienced this firsthand. Ingmar, Sabrina, Ralph, Conny, mein Bruder Tschippe, Cat, Andy, Darin—the list goes on.
Travelling to meet our gearhead friends and family abroad has forever changed our lives. It will change yours too. This is the driving thought behind “Gearheads United.”
Mitsubishi stands for something.
So do we. Now you know.
