BBC News, Washington DC
For two years, Jenny Dillard has saved what she can do on her fixed income to replace the stolen vehicle from her home and got a total of a few miles.
She looked around a used car dealership in Virginia on Thursday, considering the prices of stickers with a new concern: blanket tariffs on foreign cars and car parts by experts warned that they could increase prices in the US. They kick in the next week.
She now wants to buy a car, she said, but: “I will have to wait until I improve my finance”.
Ms. Dillard is one of the piles of Americans for economic disturbance for economic disturbance under the widespread auto tariff of President Donald Trump – an unprecedented American trade policy exercise.
“It took me a long time to save for the previous car,” he said. “If the prices are very high, I am not clearly going to buy something that I cannot tolerate.”
“We just have to wait and see.”
On Wednesday, Trump announced new import taxes of 25% on cars and car parts, which enter the US from abroad on 2 April.
The duty on importing businesses of vehicles is expected on April 3, and taxes on parts are determined to start May or later.
Trump and his administration members have argued that the tariffs will “grow tremendous” and increase jobs in the US.
But experts and vehicle manufacturers have warned strictly that tariffs can increase prices for American consumers, already increasing the stress of the dull economy.
Mohammad Hussaini, a co-owner of a used car dealership in Maryland, said he hopes that the additional tariff cost will be given to the consumer.
“Prices in the wholesale market have already touched the sky,” he told the BBC.
“It’s going to deteriorate.”
A car that will be sold for $ 13,000 (£ 10,000) can grow up to $ 14,500 (£ 11,200) due to tariff, said Mr. Hussaini said. He predicts that consumers will see an increase in prices in the next three to six weeks.
Auto tariffs will probably force car dealers such as Sri Hussaini to increase prices.
“We all still have bills to pay, to feed the employees to feed and pay,” he said.
At another car dealership, Robin was hoping to get a deal before the rise in slone prices.
She said that she probably waits to shop for the car in summer, but “with Tariff, I decided that I should go out and see now”.
He rejected the claim of the Trump administration that tariffs would cause Americans to buy American cars instead of foreigners.
“I don’t think I will buy a car built in the United States just because of tariffs, I think I will probably wait a few years until things just go,” she explained.
From car buyers to car dealers, the impact of tariffs will be widespread, for better or worse, experts say.
In the US, there are 908 motor vehicles per 1,000 people. About 92% of families have a vehicle.
Car ownership in the US is usually more than in Europe, survey says, partly because in the absence of broader public transport systems, many Americans have no alternative to how they meet around.
They are more than a means of transport. As a symbol of both freedom and success, there is a unique place in the national identity of cars, from the show to my ride “Oh Lord, Will You by Me A Mercedes Benz”.
John Heitman, a university professor and automobile historians, who prefer to polish his 1982 Mercedes SL in his free time, stated that the tariff would have an existence, as well as an economic, influence.
He said, “New cars are actually out of reach of a good number of Americans,” they told the BBC. He said, “Consumers will not benefit, prices will increase,”, especially among the more affordable vehicles made in Korea, like the Hundais, he said.
As a vintage-car enthusiast, he said that Tariff has added a layer of uncertainty to his hobby.
“About 50 minutes ago, I received an email from a part supplier in Britain, stating,” Don’t worry … they are not going up, perhaps, “he said.
“We have not seen anything in writing yet.” This is what he said. ,
High-ended vehicles, such as Audis, BMW and Mercedes, will increase the price, also, Mr. Heightman said, although many people who buy from many such brands may be able to absorb a Heftier price tag.
A 2024 Study by US International Trade Commission It was predicted that 25%tariff imports on imports would decrease by about 75%, while average prices in the US would increase by about 5%.
The US imported around eight million cars last year – about half of accounting and overall sales for approximately $ 240BN (£ 186BN) in business.
Despite the efforts of some car manufacturers – to discourage Trump by making an auto tariff, including Ford and General Motors – the President is moving forward.
Some car makers are embracing Trump’s tariff, though.
On Tuesday, South Korean car-marker Hyundai announced that it would invest a new steel plant in Louisiana and would invest $ 21BN (£ 16.3bn) in the US.
Trump said that this step is a clear performance that the tariff works very strongly “.
But tariffs are also likely to affect domestic cars. The US Auto Manufacturing has been deeply associated with industries in Canada and Mexico for decades. Parts cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-cross-a vehicle as a vehicle can also see an increase in a sticker value as a vehicle.
Finally, Trump’s tariff strategy will throw the auto industry into the unwanted area, making them uncertain on consumers, dealers and vehicle manufacturers until they are implemented on Wednesday.
“Everything is now Topsey Turvy, you know, and it is also full of uncertainty, because no one knows what kind of game is being played by the Trump administration actually all the blasts of these tariffs,” said Mr. Heitman.
Some, such as Maya Fountain-Huch, just want to get through restlessness. He took his car to a dealership this week to avoid the need for a replacement after the tariff hit.
“(I) is making sure that my car is working and hopefully I have to buy another car over the next few years, or at least for the next four years until this administration is done.”
Maying Wu contributed to this report.
