Tariffs Are Dropping on Cars Nobody Wants

Issue #125

Hello! Hope your Saturday is going along smoothly. 

In this issue, we discuss the tariff deal between the UK and the US and why it might not mean anything.

Plus, why Hyundai is so versatile, how thieves stole millions in luxury cars, and why hybrids are popular again. That, and much more! 

Market News

• How does Hyundai manage to have so much range? We're not talking about miles. Here's what we mean. 

• Car thieves stole this much in luxury cars, then rented them on Turo!

• Hybrids are becoming popular again. (When were they popular?) Here's why. 

• This component manufacturer declares bankruptcy. We analyze how it can affect you. 

• Nissan miscalculated how many people wanted to buy a Murano. Here's what happened. 

• Ram announces a market-leading warranty on new trucks. Check out the astonishing number. 

• Here's a valuable rule for buying a new car, especially in these financially challenging times. 

• The Charger saga continues as Dodge restarts production. Here's more on the crazy production schedule. 

• Ford and GM battle it out over Chinese batteries. Here's more on the beef between them. 

• Audi has these plans for ICE engines. It's not the only one. Mercedes also joins in the ICE party.

Safety and Recalls

• Mercedes-Benz recalls close to 100,000 vehicles for this reason. 

• Ford halts Mustang Mach-E sales for this critical reason. 

• Volvo urges drivers to stop using this feature immediately.

Car Culture

• A man gets his car stuck on a staircase in Italy. Yes, you read that right. Here's what happened. 

• This famous actor had forgotten his Rolls-Royce in New York for 25 years. Here's how much he accumulated in parking tickets.

• This brand-new Audi has drum brakes. And we might see them more often. 

• Toyota confesses this about its cars. Fortunately, it's taking action, as well. 

• The Chrysler 300 could make a comeback and look like this. 

• GM unveils the quickest Corvette yet. Here it is. 

• Maserati depends on Alfa Romeo for its future, and that alone shouldn't instill trust. Here's what we mean. 

• Let's revisit this GM midsize truck and wonder why they stopped making it. 

• Which luxury SUV should you choose, Audi, Lamborghini, or Porsche? Here's the answer to a question you never had. 

• This article is pretty harsh with VW's 2026 lineup, but also on point. 

Video Of The Week

We’re sticking with TFL.

This time, they’re driving a turbine-powered car, and it’s a fascinating vehicle.

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In The Know

 Cheaper British Cars? Still Not Interested

The British make really cool cars. I (Bernard) would know–I owned a 1969 Land Rover, and, get this, it was my daily driver! (I'm never doing that again.) 

You can still find the occasional Land Rover on car auction sites, such as this gem. Mine was definitely not this beautiful. 

Then, I had a 1995 Range Rover (I'm never doing that again, either!)

But both of them could climb a wall better than almost any other brand. 

Rugged offroaders are only one part of the UK's vast automotive history. They've also mastered the art of the small, nimble sports car and the elegant sedan with superb handling. 

Even the Land Rover Defender, once known as a primitive vehicle, is now a thing to behold, especially the latest Camel Trophy-inspired version, which you can see in this article. 

By the way, you can now import one of the best high-performance cars ever made, and it's from Britain. Check out this article to see what we're talking about.

So, there's no denying that British cars are cool, regardless of what you want.

Offroader? The Defender, Range Rover, and Discovery are there.

Sports sedan? Jaguar (with a big caveat).

Practical, small, and fun? Mini's got you covered. 

But there's a problem: nobody buys them. 

Well, not "nobody," but the market is limited. Land Rover sold 87,000 units in 2024, and that’s not small, but this year’s projections are lower. 

Mini sold 27,000, and Jaguar sold less than 12,000 vehicles in 2024 before it paused its production for an entire year! Here's why "Jag" stopped making cars.

You can check out Jaguar's sales figures here. 

So, why was the world celebrating when the US and the UK agreed to reduce car tariffs from 25% to 10%? 

We analyzed this trade deal more deeply and explained some of the finer details. You can read it here. 

We're not the only ones discussing how this deal isn't really a groundbreaking decision. Granted, it does provide some relief, but only from the initial 25% and not from what we would've paid some years back, as this article explains. 

The article mentions one critical aspect: what about American cars? 

Just as British cars aren't popular in the US, the same applies: American cars aren't bestsellers in the United Kingdom. 

Some American cars do sell well across the Atlantic Ocean. Ironically, they're not from American brands, as this article explains.

So, this deal isn’t really benefiting American automakers. 

That's why it wasn't surprising that the Big 3 lashed back at the new tariffs between both countries. This article explains how GM and Ford reacted. 

It is interesting to note the details of the new tariffs. There's a cap of 100,000 British cars, which ironically is around the number of cars the UK sells in the US per year. 

Therefore, this deal between both countries is more noise over something that won't change much. It won't mean massive sales for both countries, and it won't suddenly make us British car lovers. 

Granted, they can be some of the most technologically advanced vehicles. As this article explains, they're also at the forefront of research. 

Not only that, but Mini promises to deliver ICE engines every year. 

But none of this is big news. 

Why am I so sure? This list is a hint. 

Have you ever heard of British cars being reliable? Not me.