The company started production of the Model A in 1917, thus
becoming the first series produced passenger cars in Japan. By 1921, a total of 22 cars,
including prototypes, had been assembled at the Kobe shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding
Co., Ltd. In designing the Model A, reference was taken from a car made in
Europe.
The model was built using sketches of the dismantled base car. The engine was
built of cast iron, the chassis of beaten sheet metal and the interior was made by
experienced horse coachbuilders using hollowed-out lacquered white cypress. It was fitted
with gas headlamps, used an air blown horn and the body shell was formed from lacquered
steel panels stuck to a wooden frame. The interior trim used luxury English worsted
fabric. The Model A was displayed at the Fukuoka Expo in 1919 alongside an aircraft engine
also manufactured by the Kobe Shipyard. Sales of the Model A were handled by the Ote
Company, Mitsubishi's first automobile sales company and a joint venture between
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Corporation.
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