Courtesy: CBS News
PITTSBURGH (PTTP) — The Trump Administration’s auto tariffs were enacted on Thursday,
April 3. This tariff places a 25% tax on imported vehicles, including brands such as BMW,
Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen.
In the Pittsburgh area, car dealerships are seeing unprecedented high levels of sales as consumers
race to beat the clock. Imported vehicles currently in the US will not be impacted by the tariffs,
but ones yet to be imported will have the 25% increase.
Countries that import vehicles to the United States include Mexico (around 2.5 million cars per
year), Canada (imports approximately 1.1 million vehicles per year), and other countries
including Germany, South Korea, and Japan.
In 2024, nearly 50% of households in the United States bought a car, making it the second-most
expensive household purchase (behind only housing). While used cars won’t be directly affected,
their prices may increase as more buyers begin to browse pre-owned vehicles.
The Trump Administration hopes that the tariffs will spur US car manufacturers to create more
jobs within the States.