According to the company, there is sufficient pre-tariff inventory to meet demand
- Mitsubishi has stopped shipping vehicles to US dealers amid Trump’s 25% tariff.
- The vehicles will be held at US ports as the company awaits clarity on trade policy.
- The company’s US sales recorded an 11% growth in Q1 2025 compared to last year.
Mitsubishi Motors is tapping the brakes on vehicle shipments to US dealers, responding to ongoing trade tensions and newly imposed tariffs from the Trump administration. The move highlights how quickly shifting policy can disrupt an automaker’s logistics and inventory planning.
More: Automakers Freeze Imports As Thousands Of Cars Suddenly Stuck At US Ports
Since Mitsubishi’s entire US lineup consists of imported vehicles, each model is now subject to an additional 25 percent tariff. Although the company continues to export to North America, it has temporarily paused deliveries to its 330 US dealerships in an effort to avoid those extra costs, at least for now.
Shipments on Hold, Inventory Holding Steady
According to Jeremy Barnes, Senior Director for Communications and Events at Mitsubishi North America, vehicles will remain at U.S. ports until the government announces its next steps on tariffs. Barnes told Nikkei Asia that the company has enough inventory to continue meeting demand despite the shipping freeze.
Data from Cox Automotive shows Mitsubishi had a 79-day supply of vehicles in the U.S. at the beginning of April, which is comfortably above the industry average of 70 days. For now, the brand is banking on a potential shift in tariff policy before dealership stock runs low. No pricing changes for American customers have been announced.
More: Americans Are Buying Cars Like It’s Black Friday Before Tariffs Hit
Mitsubishi isn’t alone, as several other automakers have made similar moves. Aston Martin, Audi, Lotus, and Jaguar Land Rover have all temporarily paused vehicle imports to the US. Nissan has stopped taking orders for the Mexico-built Infiniti QX50 and QX55, and Volvo is reportedly killing the S90 sedan.
Sales Up in Early 2025 Despite Uncertainty
Despite the uncertainty around trade, Mitsubishi reported solid sales in the first quarter of 2025. The automaker sold 31,637 vehicles in North America, an 11 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The Outlander remains the brand’s best-seller in the region with 11,992 sales in Q1 2025, despite a 13% decrease compared to Q1 2024. The refreshed version of the SUV debuted in North America in late February, with the plug-in hybrid variant achieving record monthly sales in March.
Interestingly, the discontinued Mirage was Mitsubishi’s second-best seller with 7,301 units, followed by the aging Outlander Sport (6,910 units) and the Eclipse Cross (3,731 units) SUVs.
