Mitsubishi vehicles have been part of New Zealand’s roadscape since the late 1960’s. This gained huge momentum in 1970 when one of New Zealand’s leading and longest-established automotive businesses – Todd Motors Corporation - was awarded the franchise for Mitsubishi cars, trucks and buses.

The Todd Group of businesses has a long and distinguished record of service to New Zealanders, reaching back more than a century.

It had its beginnings in Otago’s wool industry in the 1890s. Early in the 20th century, founder Charles Todd and his four sons could see the significance of the fledgling automotive business.

They opened a network of small repair garages. Operating first from Dunedin and then from Wellington, Todd Motors obtained the franchise for Gray cars from the United States, before establishing a relationship with Chrysler in 1925 and the Rootes Group six years later.

In the mid-1930s it set up a factory in Petone to assemble Chrysler and Rootes Group cars and trucks.

Through the first half of the 20th Century Todd Motors steadily built a dealer network, some company-owned, others independent.

A year after winning the Mitsubishi franchise, Todd’ s commissioned construction of a new assembly plant in Porirua. The first cars emerged from this plant in 1973.

Mitsubishi Motors bought Todd Motors in 1987. They continued assembling cars and trucks until 1998 when new Government policy forced the closure of the assembly factory. That year the company switched to its current role as a vehicle importer and distributor, sourcing Mitsubishi vehicles from several countries including Japan, Thailand and Australia.

Today the company has a 36-strong network of car dealers supported by a furter 15 parts and service dealers, with 14 main truck dealers backed up by ten parts and service dealers.

Today Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand manages importing, marketing and new and used parts operations from its head office, still located in Porirua.