In that year, Yataro Iwasaki – the founder of Mitsubishi, took a lease out on government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale.
This shipbuilding business was later turned into Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and then launched as Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries, Ltd. in 1934, establishing its position as the largest private firm in Japan, manufacturing ships, heavy machinery, airplanes, and railroad cars.
Following the end of World War II, a law aimed at dissolving "zaibatsu" or Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works dismantling the over concentration of economic power was in effect. Thus, in 1950, MHI was divided into three entities: West Japan Heavy-Industries, Ltd., Central Japan Heavy-Industries, Ltd. and East Japan Heavy-Industries, Ltd. It was later consolidated in 1964 and reborn as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
In 1970, MHI's automobile department became independent and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation began manufacturing and marketing automobiles.
Integrating each company's management and technical expertise and enhancing competitiveness in domestic and international markets, MHI has come a long way.
The "Three Diamonds", company symbol of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., originated with the symbol of the ship's flag which the company's forefather, Tsukumo Shokai, adopted when it started the shipping business. This symbol is a transformed version of the family emblem of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi. In October 1, 2016, the airconditioning division of MHI group became a seperate corporation and named as MHI Thermal Systems.
The two Mitsubishi companies may share the same Japanese name but that is about all that is shared. The two are direct competitors in the VRF and split product sectors although they have come to the air conditioning market on very different routes. Mitsubishi Electric, a former division of Mitsubishi Heavy industries, broke away in 1921 to embark on semiconductor technology.