Tomorrow Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the Tonsley Park vehicle assembly plant in Adelaide, South Australia.

Revered as a world-class vehicle assembly plant with leading-edge manufacturing equipment when it was opened, Tonsley Park has assembled over a million vehicles during its 40 years for domestic and export markets.

Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies commissioned Tonsley Park on 2nd October, 1964 for Chrysler Australia. Tonsley Park manufactured the popular Chrysler Valiant models from 1964 to 1981.

“Whether operating as Chrysler or Mitsubishi, our customers have continued to have confidence that cars built at Tonsley Park are vehicles of substance and style. That was recognised in 1964 and is still the case today,” said Tom Phillips, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited.

Although Australians were familiar with Mitsubishi as a car manufacturer, the company was better known for imported vehicles such as the Colt. It wasn’t until 1971, when Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation partnered to assemble Galant and then Sigma at Tonsley Park, that Mitsubishi Motors began to have a local manufacturing presence.

In 1980 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan acquired the balance of Chrysler Australia shares, marking the beginning of Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd. (MMAL). The first Magna was introduced in 1985.

Tonsley Park has matured over the years but has been constantly upgraded to meet the needs of the new vehicles it makes. It is currently undergoing major renovations as part of a $600 million investment programme by Mitsubishi Motors for the production of the all-new generation sedan that replaces Magna next year.

Another thing that hasn’t changed in the last 40 years is the passion and performance employees have in building the best Australian-made vehicles possible.

“Going forward, I am confident Tonsley Park will continue to have a successful legacy of manufacturing top-quality vehicles for domestic and export markets, especially as we now begin to really gear up for the launch of next year’s all-new car,” said Tom Phillips.