The Maibatsu Corporation is a Japanese automaker that has appeared in every Grand Theft Auto game since Grand Theft Auto III except for Grand Theft Auto Advance. The name "Maibatsu" is derived from Daihatsu and Mitsubishi, and is also similar in name to "Zaibatsu" (財閥), a Japanese term for a large conglomerate.

Maibatsu corporate logo in Grand Theft Auto IV

Appearances in games

Grand Theft Auto III

File:MonstrosityUS.jpg

An ad for the Maibatsu Monstrosity (actually the Landstalker).

Maibatsu runs a radio ad for the Monstrosity, a very large SUV with extremely bad fuel efficiency(as low as 3 MPG).n

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

On the talk radio station VCPR. Jonathan Freeloader mentions Enviromental Week which is sponsored by Maibatsu and the Vice City Power Corporation. Maibatsu runs a sexually provocative ad on the radio to promote the Thunder.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Maibatsu takes out an ad on the radio encouraging parents to buy their kids cars instead of bicycles.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Maibatsu runs an ad for the Womb, a minivan designed for men. It features a cooler for beer and a television on the dashboard among its features.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

In the Vice City Inquirer, the Buy American Coalition asks readers to "take a mallet to a Maibatsu today".

Grand Theft Auto IV

The corporation is more blatantly based on Mitsubishi. Maibatsu now produces the Mule truck, Sanchez dirtbike, and Vincent sedan.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Maibatsu doesn't make any notable appearance in Chinatown Wars aside from the presence of the Sanchez dirtbike.

List of Maibatsu models

Grand Theft Auto III Era

Monstrosity (Advertised in Grand Theft Auto III)
Thunder (Advertised in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
Womb (Advertised in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories)

Grand Theft Auto IV Era

Trivia

The "Maibatsu Corporation" is likely a nod to the Zaibatsu Corporation a massive corporation that plays a large role in Grand Theft Auto 2.

Vehicle Brands (Category)