Car Buyers Rush to Beat Tariff Hikes

Car buyers in the US are in a hurry. They are rushing to purchase vehicles before new tariffs make cars more expensive. This rush has led to a significant increase in sales for major car companies in March. Ford, for example, saw a 10% increase in sales for March. This is a big jump from the 1. 3% decline they experienced in the first quarter of the year. The biggest boost came from retail sales, which saw a 19% increase. This means more people are buying cars directly from dealers. The reason for this rush? The Trump administration plans to impose a 25% tariff on all imported cars. This includes cars from Canada and Mexico. Later in the year, there might also be tariffs on auto parts. About half of the cars sold in the US are imports. Many cars made in the US also use imported parts. This could lead to higher prices for all cars in the near future. Car buyers are aware of this and are trying to beat the price hikes. Websites like Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. com saw a 30% increase in traffic after the tariffs were announced. Dealership websites also saw a 20% increase in traffic. This shows that people are seriously considering buying cars before prices go up. Ford's sales jump is not just about tariffs. The company also saw strong sales for some of its popular models. The Maverick, a small pickup truck made in Mexico, had a record sales month in March. The Mustang Mach-E, an electric SUV also made in Mexico, saw a 21% increase in sales compared to last year. Ford isn't the only company seeing a sales boost. Toyota's sales rose nearly 8% in March after a 3% decline in the first two months of the year. Honda saw a 13% increase in sales compared to last year. Hyundai reported record US sales in March, with a 13% increase. General Motors also saw a nearly 17% increase in sales for the quarter. All these companies also reported strong sales of electric vehicles. This is interesting because the $7, 500 tax credit for buying many EV models is at risk. The Trump administration plans to end support for electric vehicles over gasoline-powered models. The rush to buy cars is just one part of a larger trend. The Trump administration is pushing for more tariffs this week. President Trump is expected to unveil plans for reciprocal tariffs. The details of these plans are still unclear.