From Stock Crashes to Canceled
In today’s opinionated world, public reputation is everything for a business. One wrong move, and you can easily find yourself on the wrong end of consumer sentiment. With that in mind, here are 20 car brands that have undoubtedly fallen out of our good graces.
1. Tesla
There was certainly a time when Tesla was considered king. But times change, especially when cults of personality and politics get involved. The green status symbol is now seen as a marker of the sins of its CEO, and the plummeting stock price further proves public opinion on the matter.
2. Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi is that one brand everyone keeps forgetting about, probably because it has been struggling to stay relevant for ages. In an attempt to turn things around, the brand is launching a new North American business plan, but these days, the competition might be way too stiff.
3. Chrysler
In 2025, Chrysler released only one model—the Pacifica Voyager minivan. With this sad showing and the fact that they’re really not making money, it’s clear to see where this brand is headed.
4. Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo will always be a cult favorite among its European fans, granting it some solace in the competitive car market. However, that favoritism doesn’t translate to major sales, with fewer than 11,000 units sold in the U.S. in 2023. The company will have to work hard to appeal to broader, unfamiliar demographics.
5. Fiat
Fiat gets plenty of love in international markets, but it simply isn’t doing all that great overall. Many people believe it’s due to outdated designs or the fact that other European brands simply outshine it.
6. Infiniti
Nissan itself is a troubled brand, but its luxury division is struggling even harder. Despite seeing a recent increase in sales, Infiniti still falls behind most major car manufacturers.
7. Aston Martin
Despite keeping up appearances, Aston Martin has gone through three CEOs in the past two years alone, and its stock price is certainly struggling. The situation is made worse by the fact that recent models are plagued with persistent software problems.
8. Jaguar
Jaguar is doing its best to stay relevant, trying a new marketing approach with zany videos to appeal to younger generations. Unfortunately, it just isn’t working—sales have fallen below 10,000 vehicles annually.
9. Lincoln
Following in Buick’s footsteps, Lincoln attempted to push into the Chinese market and gain recognition as a foreign luxury brand in a lucrative market. Unfortunately, it was a little too late and didn’t see the uptick in success—no matter how brief. Nowadays, Lincoln lags behind Cadillac in terms of sales.
10. Mazda
Japanese brands are best known for their reliability and longevity, and while Mazda does its best, it lags behind the competition for one reason or another. It’s a much smaller, independent brand, and it hopes to solidify its position by transitioning toward electric vehicles.
11. Maserati
Returning to the world of luxury cars, Maserati is a well-known high-end brand that most people only dream of owning. However, targeting a very specific and niche clientele can be a major hindrance—exclusivity results in low sales. Currently, their sales are on a significant downward trend.
12. Volkswagen
There was a time when Volkswagen was considered one of the most reliable brands out there, but that has changed. Volkswagen has been experiencing buyer’s remorse, with sales plummeting below Mazda in recent years. The marketing and reliability issues are failing it, as many now see it as outdated.
13. Chevrolet
Chevrolet is still considered a household name by many, but the declining sales are hard to deny. The brand has struggled to maintain its competitiveness, especially against the ever-increasingly-popular electric vehicles. This lack of edge paired with their fluctuating quality puts Chevrolet on the backburner.
14. Polestar
To put things into perspective, Polestar sold only a couple thousand electric vehicle units in 2024. The EV market is highly competitive, and despite its ambitions, the brand has even more models scheduled for launch soon.
15. Smart
You may have never heard of this brand, but they essentially sell those small, urban-tailored vehicles with minimal cargo space. It’s probably that lack of power or practicality that deters most buyers—plus, they cater to a niche that just isn’t popular.
16. Land Rover
Looking at sales and reliability reports, it’s clear that Land Rover just doesn’t have it figured out. The brand is plagued by numerous problems, ranging from engine failures to electrical faults. No wonder it’s often recommended to stay away.
17. Buick
Buick is still doing everything in its power to stay relevant despite poor sales. While it does sell more vehicles than Cadillac, some of its models are struggling more than they’re worth. The company has big plans to introduce new EV models soon, but the demand doesn’t seem to be there.
18. Peugeot
While French nationalists are probably thrilled to represent a brand of their own, the automaker is often criticized for its inconsistency. Mechanical and technical problems aside, its reliability is quite shaky, and it never truly recovered from past mistakes.
19. Genesis
Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury offshoot, and like most premium brands, it struggles with balancing brand recognition and prestige. Competing with giants like Mercedes and Audi, it’s no surprise that Genesis is often forgotten—it’s fighting a popularity contest it simply isn’t a contender in.
20. Dodge
Dodge is best known for its famous Ram trucks, but that division became a standalone brand in 2009, leaving the rest of the company scrambling to find its footing. Currently, models like the Hornet are showing poor sales, while the new electric vehicle lineup just doesn’t attract the same attention.
