The car companies that will be most impacted by the newly implemented tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts are those with significant import volumes into the United States or those with complex, globally integrated supply chains.1 Here's a breakdown of some of the most affected:

Companies with a High Percentage of Imported Vehicles:

  • Luxury European Brands: Companies like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Maserati, and Ferrari import a large percentage, if not their entire lineup, into the US from Europe. These companies will face significant price increases on their vehicles, potentially impacting their sales volume. For example, Ferrari has already announced a 10% price increase on some models.2

  • Japanese and Korean Automakers: Brands like Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, and Lexus (for many models) import a substantial portion of their vehicles from Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. These companies will need to decide how much of the tariff to absorb and how much to pass on to consumers.

  • Other European Importers: Alfa Romeo (all vehicles from Italy), Fiat (500e from Italy), and Mini (Cooper from UK, Countryman from Germany) will also see their entire lineups subject to the tariffs.

  • Buick (Partially): While some Buick models are built in the US, the Encore GX, Envision, and Envista are built elsewhere and will be affected.3

  • Cadillac (Partially): The Cadillac Optiq is built in Mexico and will be subject to tariffs.

  • Chrysler (Partially): The Pacifica and Voyager vans are built in Canada and will become more expensive.4

  • Dodge (Partially): The Hornet SUV is built in Italy and will face tariffs.5

  • Lincoln (Partially): The Nautilus is imported from China and will be subject to tariffs.6

Companies with Significant Imports from Canada and Mexico:

  • General Motors (GM): Despite being a US-based company, GM imports a significant number of vehicles from Mexico and Canada, including popular trucks and SUVs like the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and some mid-sized SUVs. They also build two of their new EVs in Mexico. Analysts expect GM to be one of the most exposed among the "Big Three."7

  • Stellantis (Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram): Stellantis also has substantial operations in Mexico and Canada, producing Ram pickups and vans in Mexico and Chrysler models in Canada.8 The Jeep Compass is also made in Mexico.9 Some analysts predict a significant price increase for models like the Ram truck.

  • Ford: While Ford manufactures a larger percentage of its US sales domestically (around 80%), key models like the Maverick pickup truck and Bronco Sport SUV are imported from Mexico and will be directly impacted. Ford also has significant cross-border movement of auto parts within North America.10

  • Honda and Toyota: These Japanese automakers have large production facilities in both the US and North America (Canada and Mexico).11 Their vehicles and parts moving across these borders will be subject to the tariffs, making them particularly vulnerable.

Companies Relying Heavily on Imported Parts:

  • All Automakers (Including Domestic): It's crucial to note that even vehicles assembled in the US rely on a significant number of imported parts (averaging at least 15%).12 The tariffs on auto parts (engines, transmissions, electrical systems, etc.), set to take effect on May 3, 2025, will increase production costs for all automakers selling vehicles in the US, including Ford, GM, Stellantis, Tesla, and Rivian. This will likely lead to price increases across the board, even for domestically assembled vehicles. For example, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which assemble SUVs in the US but import engines and transmissions from Germany, will be heavily hit by the parts tariffs. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also acknowledged that Tesla will not be unscathed due to the tariff impact on imported parts.13

Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufacturers:

  • The EV sector could be particularly vulnerable due to the reliance on imported battery components and raw materials, especially from China. The proposed high antidumping duty on Chinese graphite, a critical battery material, could significantly increase battery costs, hindering EV adoption.14

Key Factors Determining Impact:

  • Import Volume: The higher the volume of vehicles and parts a company imports, the greater the direct financial impact of the tariffs.

  • Production Location Flexibility: Companies with less flexibility to shift production quickly to the US will be more affected.

  • Supply Chain Complexity: Automakers with highly integrated international supply chains will face greater disruptions and cost increases.

  • Pricing Strategy: The degree to which companies absorb tariff costs or pass them on to consumers will determine the impact on sales volume and market competitiveness.

In summary, while no car company will be entirely immune due to the tariffs on parts, those that import a large portion of their vehicle lineup into the US from countries outside of North America (like many European luxury brands and some Asian manufacturers) and those with significant import/export operations within North America (like GM, Stellantis, Ford, Honda, and Toyota) are expected to be the most significantly impacted by the new tariff regime.