As expected, Ford Motor Co. reported a drop in earnings and profits for the first quarter of 2025. The company also suspended its earnings guidance for the rest of the year, but did estimate the new tariffs could cost the automaker about $1.5 billion. Get details at Headlight.News.
This week on the Headlight News podcast, we talk about the strong April sales numbers, as well as President Trump implementing his tariffs on the auto industry, plus a review of the 2025 Lincoln Navigator and more.
Millions of American motorists have been rushing to buy before the Trump auto tariffs take hold. But automakers and auto dealers were already driving up transaction prices even before the sanctions went into effect on May 3, despite White House claims prices won’t rise. If anything, costs are going to continue going up, reports Headlight.News.
If you’re a luxury buyer, Trump’s auto tariffs are likely to have little more impact than raising your monthly payment. Buyers on a tight budget are likely to be driven out of the new vehicle market, industry analysts warn, while half of the entry-level models now available in U.S. showrooms are likely to vanish. Tariffs, it turns out, will impact all motorists, even those not looking for a new vehicle, by raising costs for service and repairs – and even insurance. Headlight.News reports.
Buyers worried about future price increase under Trump tariff plans kept dealers busy during April. But momentum is expected to sputter out when sanctions go into effect on May 3, potentially raising vehicle prices by thousands of dollars. Headlight.News has more.
General Motors revised its full-year financial forecast and said the auto tariffs put in place by Pres. Donald Trump could cost it as much as $5 billion this year – despite the White House move this week to offer automakers some modest relief. As a result, it expects to see sales, revenues and net income fall sharply when compared to its original forecast for 2025. More from Headlight.News.
Tesla denied reports the company’s board has begun searching for a replacement for CEO Elon Musk. The South African-born entrepreneur has come under increasing fire due to his ties to the Trump administration, leading to a sharp slump in Tesla sales and earnings and calls by some leading investors to find a new chief executive. Headlight.News has the latest.
Stellantis reported Wednesday a 14% slide in revenues for the first quarter. The Euro-American automaker had previously forecast a turnaround later in the year but said during a webcast it was suspending future guidance in the face of Pres. Trump’s new auto tariffs. It joins GM and Mercedes in warning that sales and earnings could be at risk. More from Headlight.News.
Protestors and proponents alike turned out during a visit by President Donald Trump to suburban Detroit. The president promised tariffs will lead to more good-paying jobs in the United States and an economic boom in the future. But he also announced steps providing tariff relief as automakers prepare for the possibility of a sharp slump in sales and earnings — as well as job cuts — in the months ahead.
President Donald Trump keeps fine tuning the 25% tariff on automobiles and components coming into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as well as the much larger levies from China. As a result, automakers continue to find ways to offset the price increases without crushing their bottom lines. Find out more at Headlight.News.
General Motors saw its first quarter revenue rise 2.3%, but its adjusted earnings and net income declined. The company’s top leaders delayed a call with investors, analysts and the media about the quarter due to President Donald Trump’s decision to ease tariffs. Officials will talk Thursday morning about the results and the potential impact of the president’s move. Get details at Headlight.News.
Pres. Donald Trump is expected to deliver good news for the auto industry during a visit to Detroit Tuesday. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signaled there will be cuts made to the tariffs that were expected to result in as much as a 2 million unit reduction in new vehicle sales this year. Headlight.News has more.