Bye Bye Mitsubishi

By Chad Petri Reporter

Joe Bullard Mitsubishi plans on switching its focus to just used cars this January. Bye Bye Mitsubishi

Published: Wed, December 03, 2008 - 5:43 pm Last Updated: Wed, December 03, 2008 - 6:12 pm

Chad Petri

Dealer Operator Joe Bullard says he wishes his company didn't have to give up the Mitsubishi brand.

“We really can't sustain it in an independent building like it's in,” says Bullard. They will stop selling new Mitsubishis in January. Bullard says he's confident another Mitsubishi dealership is coming. After January, customers with cars under warranty will have to drive to Pensacola or Gulfport if a new dealership hasn’t arrived. Officials with the National Automobile Dealers Association say about 900 new car dealers will close up shop this year. A fraction will do what Joe Bullard's doing and convert the existing business to a used car center. Dealerships across mobile are feeling a pinch. Coastal Ford's sales are down by half.

“Things are tight, very, very tight, it's not about the inability finance it’s not about the lack of cars, the lack of financing, it's all about consumer confidence or the lack thereof,” says Coastal Ford Manager Joe Gerard. Joe Bullard says most employees will go to other operations. He couldn't specify how many are being let go.