Everything You Need To Know About Tariffs On Cars

Issue 102

Hello! April started with lots of chaos in the automotive industry.

Today, we look to sort out everything that has happened. 

We’d like to know how you feel about all these changes and the short-term future of the American automotive industry.

Market News

Nissan promises to revitalize its flagship EV with a more adventurous spirit.

This giant solar farm could power EVs endlessly. 

This is the fastest-growing EV brand in the US, and it’s not Tesla. 

This European manufacturer brings back a former CEO to navigate troubled times

Honda got $632,000 in fines for violating a critical privacy act. Here’s what it is. 

Nissan distances itself from long-term partner Renault to improve its condition, hopefully. 

Virginia bill targets reckless drivers and would force them to do this

Safety and Recalls

Volvo recall expands to 73,000 vehicles over fire risks

Sigh. Ford has another recall. This time, it’s 33,600 vehicles over a cracked fuel injector. 

The NHTSA is investigating 1.3 million Ford F-150 vehicles over a potential transmission issue. 

Nissan finally begins fixing a three-year-old recall. Find out what it is here. 

Car Culture

The four-door Charger Daytona makes its public debut, and here’s how it looks. 

Two kids stole a 650-horsepower Chevy Camaro ZL1 and the chase ends in a weird location because, why not?

This is the coolest retro Isuzu truck you’ve never seen. 

Jalopnik surveyed drivers on what’s their favorite driving song and here they are. Is yours on the list?

Is this the last great cheap Japanese sports car ever?

These are the best-selling SUVs of 2025 so far. 

The Porsche Taycan just did a mindboggling (no, mindbending) 0-60 time. Here it is!

Video of the week

What’s good (and bad) in the new Ford Ranger Raptor, after a year of ownership? Find out here!

IN THE KNOW

Tariffs shake up the automotive industry and haven’t even been put in place, so what has happened up to today?

April 2nd will be a crucial day for the automotive industry.

A seemingly simple idea has created a lot of uncertainty. Tariffs are coming, but how much will they impact cars?

It’s hard to tell. Instead, what we can do is understand what’s going on right now. 

Prospective car buyers are rushing to dealerships to see if they can land a deal before prices increase.

Some experts estimate that monthly payments could increase by $300. Here’s more on what buyers and dealerships are doing to navigate the incoming tariffs. 

What about used cars?

This aspect could be even more complex. It depends on the country of origin, and the car’s age. In some cases, we could see a 50% tax, and the challenge is that understanding these new tariffs can take time.

Here’s an article that explains them in a digestible manner. 

Meanwhile, with new cars, automakers are also scrambling to decide how much action they take.

As many have highlighted before, it’s not easy to move an entire operation into the US. It’s so complicated that some companies won’t act rashly. Here’s what Toyota plans to do. 

On the other hand, Audi will take a different approach. The German automaker has considered involving the consumer, and not in the most positive of ways. 

These moves can raise uncertainty amongst buyers who love them. However, those who are Hyundai fans might breathe a sigh of relief.

The Korean company has relentlessly invested in a “localization strategy”, which means injecting billions into the US. This plays in the company’s favor; here’s how. 

This is the moment in which we said, “I’d love to find a way to see how the tariffs will affect each automaker?”

Fortunately for us, and for you, there is a list!

Road and Track made an excellent analysis of what could happen to each automaker with a US presence. Here it is: Acura has an enviable position. 

The reality is that these tariffs have shaken a globalized economy, not only in the automotive sector.

According to some experts, it’s a domino effect that could “devastate” the industry and have consequences in other sectors.

For example, the tariff burden on Canadian cars will also burden American cars and other industries. This article explains more about this. 

One aspect of car ownership that’s been consistently increasing before tariffs is insurance.

Unfortunately, tariffs will also increase these rates because, as this article explains, most of the spares come from countries with newly assigned tariffs.

With this rapidly changing industry that’s bound to become more expensive, you might wonder if your car is tax deductible in 2025. We have the answer right here. Check out our article in the link below. 

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