A delay in implementing U.S. automotive tariffs may offer a break for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and major American automakers such as General Motors (NYSE:GM), Ford Motor (NYSE:F), and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
The original plan, announced by President Donald Trump in March, involved a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and components. While the vehicle tariffs went into effect on April 3, tariffs on auto parts were due to follow by early May.
Ives previously criticized the tariff policy, warning it could sharply increase vehicle prices, estimating costs could rise by $5,000 to $10,000 per unit. He emphasized that fully domestic vehicle manufacturing is largely unrealistic.
In Wedbush's view, focusing the tariffs solely on fully built vehicles rather than on imported components would be a far less disruptive approach for the U.S. car industry. That's because domestic production remains heavily reliant on imported parts, even for vehicles assembled in the U.S.
The firm also noted the challenge in quickly shifting away from a global supply chain that has developed over decades.
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