Donald Trump Announces i duties on cars From April 2, but promises to save the manufacturers who will move production to the USA. The tycoon pulls straight on the commercial war with the rest of the world, communicating the entry into force of permanent rates of 25% on the vehicles imported into the United States and inevitably triggering the earthquake in a sector already in crisis.
The head of the White House, however, is convinced that he can attract the car manufacturers, claiming that to avoid the duties “many companies will be produced in the United States” and that some companies would already be setting in motion to run for cover. A countermenified has already been scheduled by Korean Hyundai, while Stellantis was the first producer to announce investments in the USA since the beginning of the Trump era.
Use duties on cars
In the intentions of the American president, the duties will serve to stimulate internal production in the USA and in the meantime to bring to the administration coffers “between 600 million and 1,000 billion dollars in two years”.
Donald Trump has declared that some manufacturers would already be looking for sites in the United States where to move production, but the belief of being able to force companies to invest in their country clashes with some obstacles: the automotive one is a sector needs time to relocate, in addition to the need for large investments and a regulatory stability that with the Tycoon administration is not obvious.
The US’s decision to impose 25% duties on imported cars also breaks down on a large sector already crisisespecially for the giants of the European automotive, between difficulties and delays on the transition to electric, in an attempt to limit the strong competition of Chinese producers.
In addition to American consumers, who could pay with significant increases in cars prices, the effects of duties will fall on the countries from which about half of the imports of vehicles in the USA comes: Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Germany.
The reactions of the automotive
Following the announcement of the President of the United States, Asian bags opened downwards, with the greatest producers of the continent who lost between 3 and 4%.
Among the most exposed manufacturers to the American rates are, in fact, the Japanese Toyota, Honda and Nissan and the Koreana Hyundai.
The Seul car manufacturer closed on the stock exchange with a -4.28%, despite being among the companies that have moved in advance with investments in the United States.
Donald Trump himself had publicly praised the company for the 21 billion plan Precisely in response to the US duties: a figure that will serve to finance several projects on US soil, including 5.8 billion intended for a new plant in the State of Louisiana, by about 1,500 jobs in full speed.
The steel system will serve to produce steel destined to supply the Hyundai factories that make the models aimed at the local market, such as those in Alabama and Louisiana.
Stellantis’ investments
However, the first large car manufacturer in the United States since the start of the Trump administration was the Stellantis group, which controls, among others, the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands.
In the hearing in the Chamber, the president and current CEO of the group, John Elkann, gave reassurances on the centrality of Italy on the future of the giant, which in the meantime had announced 5 billion dedicated to car production in the USA.
In January, in a letter to employees, the Chief Operating Officer of North America Antonio Filosa he had explained how the resources allocated returned to
our commitment to invest in our activities in the United States to grow our automotive production here.
A move immediately claimed by the White House on X:
Under the leadership of President Trump, Stellantis is reporting 1,500 jobs in Illinois, reopening Belvido, and investing in Detroit, Ohio and Indiana. The American manufacturing rebirth is here. Welcome to the golden age.
