Weaker demand in the United States has caused a drop in Mitsubishi Motors North America’s sales figures. They sold 7,568 cars and trucks in May 2011, but in May 2012 they only sold 5,575 motor vehicles. These figures represent a 26.3 percent drop.

That’s a major drop from the previous year, though they certainly could have done worse. Nevertheless, it represents a serious dip in automobile sales. Comments on the sluggish condition of the economy are everywhere. People don’t necessarily have money to put into new cars, and competition is increasingly fierce. Mitsubishi might very well be in a tight spot for the time being. They could turn things around in June, but their sales figures are rather disappointing at the moment.

Japanese automotive sales figures were a major news story recently. Firms in Japan were enjoying large gains over the previous year. Sales of new automobiles were very strong, and even import models saw some modest gains. Everyone seemed to be in the black. This isn’t the case when it comes to Mitsubishi’s American figures. They haven’t been enjoying the same success in the USA that they have in their home country.

It’s important to recognize that, to some degree, Mitsubishi Motors North America is a regional firm. The company focuses on the North American side of the market. Mitsubishi does business on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, but it’s split up into various different brands. It’s important to remember that even if the parent company does well, the North American branch of the firm might suffer.

Nevertheless, there were a few pieces of good news out of the giant automaker. Galant sales were actually on the rise. 1,443 were sold in May 2011, but 1,895 were sold in May 2012. This represents a 31.3 percent increase. The Galant was Mitsubishi’s top-selling motor vehicle. With 235 sold, the Lancer Evolution also did decent business. This represents a 51.6 percent gain over the previous year.

On the other hand, the Eclipse Spyder seems to be an ailing vehicle. Sales of the Spyder were almost nonexistent, but 1,189 were sold in May last year. Only 54 left the dealership lot this time around. Mitsubishi was able to move 1,266 Outlander Sport SUV models off the lot, but this actually represents a 9.1 percent drop. Lancer Sedan sales fell to 1,099, which is a 40 percent drop over the previous year.