The 8 car brands facing extinction in the U.S. market some could disappear

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The American automotive landscape is facing a perfect storm. As tariffs escalate, consumer preferences rapidly shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), and luxury car sales collapse under rising interest rates, several once-familiar car brands are showing critical warning signs. Analysts are sounding the alarm, suggesting that many of these automakers will not survive in their current form past 2026, marking a "slow and painful decline" for brands that have failed to adapt.

For consumers, the danger is tangible: manufacturers are using “too-good-to-be-true deals” to move inventory, but those short-term savings often result in massive losses when resale values crash and warranty coverage disappears. The road ahead for these eight brands is treacherous, defined by corporate missteps and severe market exposure:

MSN

 

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The 8 Brands on the Brink of Disappearance

• 1. Chrysler: The American Icon on Financial Life Support Once a foundation of Detroit, Chrysler has been reduced to a mere "nameplate," with its parent company, Stellantis, having largely "abandoned" the division. Sales have plummeted dramatically—a staggering 80% drop in the last 20 years and 44% in just the last five—creating what insiders call a "financial bloodbath". Following the discontinuation of the 300 sedan in 2023, the brand is left with only one mainstream vehicle, the Pacifica minivan. Analysts believe Chrysler is at the top of Stellantis's list for elimination as the company reviews its "dead weight" divisions.

 

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Fiat 500

• 2. Fiat: Vanishing in Plain Sight Fiat’s U.S. market presence is practically nonexistent. The brand recorded critically low numbers, selling only 1,528 vehicles nationwide in 2024. This minimal volume leaves its market share effectively negligible. Globally, Fiat’s sales are shrinking, and Stellantis has seen a 70% plunge in its net profits. Known for poor reliability, the brand is suffering from a dwindling dealer network, leaving current owners at growing risk of being stranded without parts or essential services.

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2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

• 3. Alfa Romeo: The Failed Italian Experiment Alfa Romeo’s ambitious 2014 relaunch in the U.S. market has proven to be a decisive "case study in failure". Last year, the company sold fewer than 20,000 units nationwide. Plagued by reliability problems and burdened with only two aging models, the brand lacks major updates or a robust dealer network. Many industry insiders believe that its parent company, Stellantis, will soon "pull the plug on this Italian experiment".

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2024 Maserati MC20 RWD

• 4. Maserati: Luxury Price Crisis Driven by Tariffs Maserati is grappling with a severe global sales crisis, collapsing 57% in 2024. The U.S., once viewed as its "gold mine," is now a major liability, exacerbated by geopolitics. Every Maserati sold in America is imported from Italy, meaning new tariffs automatically inflate prices by 25%. Delayed EV launches and weak demand have made competing against U.S. luxury rivals nearly impossible, fueling speculation that Stellantis may sell, merge, or entirely shut down the brand.

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2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

• 5. Mitsubishi: The "Zombie Brand" Facing an Exit Mitsubishi is commonly referred to as a "zombie brand" in the U.S. because its market share has slipped below 1%. The company sold only 87,000 cars last year—a volume that Toyota often achieves in a single week. The situation reached a breaking point in early 2025 when the company halted all deliveries to U.S. dealers after new tariffs stranded imports at American ports. With no significant investment in future products or EVs, analysts foresee a "gradual retreat from North America," mirroring the exit of Suzuki years prior.

 

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2023 Nissan Z

• 6. Nissan: Ticking Clock to Crisis Nissan’s instability is severe, having flirted with bankruptcy in its home country and projecting billions in losses. Its U.S. market share has been cut in half, falling from over 8% to just 4%. With a planned merger with Honda collapsing and its EV strategy stalled, experts warn that Nissan has only "12 to 14 months" before a full-blown crisis unless an unexpected financial deal materializes. Ongoing issues with its CVT transmissions and an oversized dealer network further compound its instability.

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2024 Infiniti Q50

• 7. Infiniti: Luxury Division Losing Steam As Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti is fading fast amid its parent company’s struggles. U.S. sales have nearly halved over the last decade, leading to the closure of many standalone showrooms. Adding to the crisis, tariff-related trade disputes have frozen imports from Mexico, and production of crucial models, including the QX50 and QX55, is slated to end in December 2025. Despite plans to reposition the brand, Infiniti’s future looks increasingly dim.

 

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MINI Hatch

• 8. Mini: Identity Crisis and Market Contraction Mini, once known as a quirky and appealing alternative, is now widely viewed as an "overpriced novelty" in the U.S.. The brand has suffered dramatic sales losses, dropping over 60% in the last decade and nearly 40% in the last five years. Its expanded, diluted lineup and a "slow and uneven" transition to electric models have eroded its market identity. Parent company BMW may eventually integrate Mini into its own lineup, perhaps retaining one niche model while eliminating the standalone brand entirely.

 

[bgbtylvr]

Yeah. All ass. Maserati is a dumbed down Ferrari and expensive as hell to fix out of warranty. The rest should only be driven if you own a vagina.

 

[Deezz]

2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio

• 3. Alfa Romeo: The Failed Italian Experiment Alfa Romeo’s ambitious 2014 relaunch in the U.S. market has proven to be a decisive "case study in failure". Last year, the company sold fewer than 20,000 units nationwide. Plagued by reliability problems and burdened with only two aging models, the brand lacks major updates or a robust dealer network. Many industry insiders believe that its parent company, Stellantis, will soon "pull the plug on this Italian experiment".

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I own an Alfa and agree with the dealer network not being the greatest.

 

[lightbright]

Yeah. All ass. Maserati is a dumbed down Ferrari and expensive as hell to fix out of warranty. The rest should only be driven if you own a vagina.

One of my coworkers bought one after he came on the fire department..... one of the low-end bitch models.... can't hate on him tho..... he was literally fucking everything.... pretty and ugly..... lot of notches on his bed post..... he would bring a scrap book to work with dozens upon dozens of ho's with his gun in their mouths and pussies.... and it wasn't because of the car
sidebar: dudes' breath almost always stunk and you didn't have to be near him .... breath could strip the barnacles off a battleship


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[clitsational]

good

fuck em

i was in shenzhen last year and saw what the chinese are up to

they have obliterated the us car makers and i love it

if these stupid racist cacs were not so greedy and short sighted they might still be in the game

but they can not get past their own fuckrey

this whole country is doomed and we as black people need to unhook our wagon from these ig'nant fucks

as quickly as possible

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[0utsyder]

Yeah. All ass. Maserati is a dumbed down Ferrari and expensive as hell to fix out of warranty. The rest should only be driven if you own a vagina.

...but I own a Chrysler minivan...

 

[dbluesun]

Trump could have brought these brands factories to the US
upping mfg policy
negotiation instead of tariffs would have worked
govt i incentives to buy vehicles/anything made in the US
would be better than hi current policy
think about his failed hyundai debacle

 

[Coldchi]

2024 Infiniti Q50

• 7. Infiniti: Luxury Division Losing Steam As Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti is fading fast amid its parent company’s struggles. U.S. sales have nearly halved over the last decade, leading to the closure of many standalone showrooms. Adding to the crisis, tariff-related trade disputes have frozen imports from Mexico, and production of crucial models, including the QX50 and QX55, is slated to end in December 2025. Despite plans to reposition the brand, Infiniti’s future looks increasingly dim.

i almost copped one of these last week. Smooth ride tho.
Decided on a Mercedes instead.

 

[bgbtylvr]

One of my coworkers bought one after he came on the fire department..... one of the low-end bitch models.... can't hate on him tho..... he was literally fucking everything.... pretty and ugly..... lot of notches on his bed post..... he would bring a scrap book to work with dozens upon dozens of ho's with his gun in their mouths and pussies.... and it wasn't because of the car
sidebar: dudes' breath almost always stunk and you didn't have to be near him .... breath could strip the barnacles off a battleship


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[bgbtylvr]

...but I own a Chrysler minivan...

You’re good bro, just put some rims on it.

 

[Dr. Truth]

good

fuck em

i was in shenzhen last year and saw what the chinese are up to

they have obliterated the us car makers and i love it

if these stupid racist cacs were not so greedy and short sighted they might still be in the game

but they can not get past their own fuckrey

this whole country is doomed and we as black people need to unhook our wagon from these ig'nant fucks

as quickly as possible

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How were the bitches in Shenzen?

 

[daking181]

2023 Nissan Z

• 6. Nissan: Ticking Clock to Crisis Nissan’s instability is severe, having flirted with bankruptcy in its home country and projecting billions in losses. Its U.S. market share has been cut in half, falling from over 8% to just 4%. With a planned merger with Honda collapsing and its EV strategy stalled, experts warn that Nissan has only "12 to 14 months" before a full-blown crisis unless an unexpected financial deal materializes. Ongoing issues with its CVT transmissions and an oversized dealer network further compound its instability.

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I rented this when I went to Houston in July. A huge disappointment

 

[clitsational]

How were the bitches in Shenzen?​

not a single baddie

a few in hong kong

couple stunners on the train to beijing tho

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[durham]

The mini should have gone 250 mile EV and marketed to the $35,000 and under crowd. Market to short travel workers, college kids and deliver drivers.

Nissan had the market locked and fucked up by sticking to low mileage, terrible styling and risky battery reliability. The Z and GTR series are going be terrible losses for the US sport car enthusiast.

 

[0utsyder]

You’re good bro, just put some rims on it.

...but I'm also BROKE!!!!! Kids are getting big so I am upgrading to one of these:

 

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...but I'm also BROKE!!!!! Kids are getting big so I am upgrading to one of these:

back in the 80's-90's a bunch of mofos on my job got that..... about 10-15 of them.... most of the guys were using them as rolling short stay bedrooms.... would be fucking in the parking lot of whatever firehouse they were at, all hours of the day n night