From WWII Enemies to Business Partners: Chrysler & Mitsubishi

During World War II, Chrysler and Mitsubishi found themselves on opposite sides of the Pacific theater. Chrysler's factories churned out Wright R-3350 engines and critical airframe components for the B-29 Superfortress—the massive bomber that would eventually drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi was producing the legendary A6M Zero, the nimble fighter aircraft that became the symbol of Japanese air power.

The contrast was stark. Chrysler workers in Detroit installed 50,000 rivets and four miles of wiring into each B-29 nose section at the DeSoto Division. In Japan, Mitsubishi engineers had designed the Zero to be fast, maneuverable, and lethal—sacrificing armor and fuel tank protection for performance. When American B-29s began their devastating bombing raids over Japan in 1944, Mitsubishi Zeros scrambled to intercept them, though by then Allied fighters had caught up to the once-superior Japanese aircraft.

From Wartime Enemies to Economic Allies

Fast forward four decades, and the former adversaries were shaking hands. In October 1985, Chrysler and Mitsubishi officially incorporated Diamond-Star Motors, a 50-50 joint venture named after their corporate logos: Mitsubishi's three diamonds and Chrysler's pentastar.

After an intense lobbying battle, Illinois won the prize. In April 1986, ground broke on a massive 1.9 million square foot production facility in Normal, Illinois—incentivized by a $274 million package from state and local governments. The plant opened in March 1988 with capacity to build 240,000 vehicles annually.

The DSM Performance Legacy

Diamond-Star Motors became famous in car enthusiast circles for producing the DSM trio: the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon. These affordable, turbocharged sport coupes shared the same platform and became icons of 1990s tuner culture. The plant also produced various sedan models including the Mitsubishi Galant, Dodge Avenger Coupe, and Chrysler Sebring Coupe.

The partnership didn't last forever. Chrysler sold its equity stake in 1991, and Diamond-Star Motors was renamed Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing America in 1995. But for about a decade, the factory stood as a remarkable symbol of reconciliation—where companies that had built weapons to destroy each other instead collaborated to build cars for American families.

It's a testament to how drastically relationships can transform. The roar of B-29 engines and Zero fighters gave way to the hum of assembly lines, proving that even the fiercest wartime rivals can become peacetime partners.