In the UK, Mitsubishi Motors is represented by the Colt Car Company, a full service distributor for the marque since 1974. Mitsubishi Motors UK headquarters are based in the historic Cotswold market town of Cirencester, 20 minutes drive from Swindon and 30 minutes from Cheltenham. Until October 2008 the company was a joint venture between Colt Automotive Ltd, with a 51% holding, and Mitsubishi Corporation with 49%. After October 2008, Colt Automotive's stake in the business was sold to Mitsubishi Corporation Automotive (Europe), making them the sole 100% share holder.

The Colt Car Company has a strong network of 122 franchised Mitsubishi Motors Dealerships throughout the UK and 12 dealerships (Colt Mid West) which are directly owned in Bristol, Cheltenham & Gloucester, Cirencester, Melksham, Swindon, Chertsey, Dursley, Chessington, Weston-super-Mare, Putney and Reading with a core of around 200 permanent staff. Other subsidiary companies are: Mitsubishi Contract Motoring (contract hire), Shogun Finance (retail finance company) and Colt Mid West.

Prior to the end of import quotas in 1996 average annual sales were around 10,000 units, with a high mix of 4x4s. The introduction of European-built models at NedCar, together with the relaxation of import quotas on Japanese-built vehicles resulted in sales expectations increasing dramatically. In 2000 a new management team headed by Jim Tyrrell took over. A new strategy was implemented for fleet business, product and pricing and new terms for dealers. Mitsubishi soon became the fastest growing Japanese marque in the UK and annual sales more than doubled between the years 2000 - 2005 from 18,000 to 38,000 units.

Mitsubishi in the UK is a brand best known for its 4x4s and performance vehicles, but the company is rapidly moving towards a new reputation of leading the way in environmental technologies with many vehicles coming with Auto Stop & Go technology and the multi award-winning all-electric i-MiEV city car.