Underlying dispute Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc.

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seeing other japanese car makers allowing dealers in puerto rico transship excess inventory latin america , continental united states, soler asked if same. mitsubishi refused, saying vehicles customized puerto rican market. lacked heaters , defoggers have needed on mainland, , engines not run on lower-grade leaded gasoline sold in many latin american countries @ time. further, soler had no experience maritime shipping , not been able meet service obligations under warranty transshipped cars , trucks. mitsubishi concerned transshipments continental u.s. seen skirting voluntary import restraints japanese automakers had been practicing in american market mitigate potential political backlash distressed american counterparts.

soler later claim told real reason refusal allow transshipping mitsubishi , chrysler had divided territories, informally agreeing former brand have preference outside mainland u.s. while chrysler maintained domestically. dealership began suspect mitsubishi intended sabotage business in order replace wholly owned subsidiary once brand had been established in puerto rico. in 1982 soler stopped paying storage costs vehicles in japan, claiming had disowned them. later year franchise agreement either ended or terminated.