Mediates the uptake of pyruvate into mitochondria. The functional 150 kDa pyruvate import complex is a heteromer of MPC1 and either MPC2 or MPC3. Grows more slowly in amino acid-free medium (SD). Present with 396 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) (TC 2.A.105) family.