5 days ago
Mitsubishi to launch first mass-market 'gallery dealership' in Nashville
Mitsubishi Motors North America plans to open the first retail sales gallery dealership for a mass-market brand in the Nashville area early next year.
As it relates to the auto industry, retail sales gallery dealerships are most commonly found in malls. These storefronts only have a select few display vehicles onsite and are a marketing tool for brands to have a presence in high traffic areas.
While retail sales gallery dealerships are typically exclusive for luxury cars, according to a release, Mitsubishi will open the first of its kind dealership in Antioch by early 2026. Poised to break ground in August, the gallery dealership will be located at 4230 Century Farms Terrace Suite 106.
The storefront will become an extension of the Murfreesboro-based dealership City Auto Mitsubishi.
'I often receive letters from customers saying they saw our car on the road, that they love the design and love the value proposition we offer, but have no Mitsubishi dealer partner nearby to make a purchase,' MMNA president and CEO Mark Chaffin said in a release. 'In my mind, we are underrepresented with a presence in about one-third of the new car markets across the U.S.'
Located off Exit 60 on Interstate 24, the gallery dealership will join Century Farms — a more than 300-acre development home to Tanger Outlet Mall and the Nashville Soccer Club's training facility. The area is also poised to welcome In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Whataburger and four new hotels.
The move is part of Mitsubishi Motors Momentum 2030, the brand's five-year push for growth.
'Mitsubishi Motors is on the cusp of a full brand-wide reinvention in the United States, with our Momentum 2030 roadmap charting our path forwards,' Chaffin said. 'One of our strengths is that we are both small and nimble, enabling us to make fast decisions and pivot as necessary. But our small dealer-network across the U.S. limits our ability to grow our share and sales volume.'
'Our gallery dealership program is key to not only achieve that growth in volume, but also to raise the experience to better meet shoppers' expectations in a modern, busy retail world,' Chaffin said.
Along with revamping its retail sales model, the business plan will also prioritize a path to electrification and an expanded product lineup.
Additionally, the MMNA announced a new hybrid powertrain for the 2026 Outlander, an updated 2026 Outlander Plug-in Hybrid and an all-new battery EV by summer 2026.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mitsubishi to open gallery dealership in Nashville's Antioch
