Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

The story of Mitsubishi Electric begins not with a single founder, but as a strategic spin-off. In 1921, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., now Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., separated its electric motor factory in Kobe into a new entity: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. This new company's first major commercial product wasn't for ships, but an electric fan that became a bestseller across Japan, funding its diversification into a wide array of electrical products. The company's lineage, however, traces back to 1870 and the ambitious Yataro Iwasaki, who founded the original Mitsubishi shipping firm. While Iwasaki established the broader Mitsubishi group, it was the 1921 decision to create a dedicated, independent electronics company that set the stage for a new industrial giant. As a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 6503), Mitsubishi Electric has a long history of public ownership. Throughout its journey, the company has continued to evolve through strategic restructuring. In 2023 and 2024, it announced significant spin-offs, including separating its automotive-equipment business to enhance profitability and forming a joint venture with its original parent company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to integrate their power-generator systems businesses. From producing electric motors for marine vessels to pioneering air conditioners, spiral escalators, and GPS navigation, the company's path is marked by continuous adaptation and a focus on specialized technology.