Trump Auto Tariffs 'Premature,' Commerce Secretary Says
President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on foreign vehicles may not come to pass, after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said it's "premature" to say the plan will move forward in a Monday appearance on CNBC.

The Trump administration is reconsidering tariffs on foreign vehicles after several automakers and parts suppliers suggested the move could backfire.
Photo via Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia. Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on foreign vehicles may not come to pass, after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said it's "premature" to say the plan will move forward in a Monday appearance on CNBC.
Last week, General Motors said the tariffs could backfire and lead to "less investment, fewer jobs, and lower wages" for its employees, the New York Times reported on June 29.
Hyundai Motor Co., BMW AG and several parts suppliers have also warned against the implementation of the tariffs. In a letter to Ross, Canadian parts maker Magna International Inc. chief marketing officer, James Tobin, said the tariffs "would weaken the U.S. economy and threaten to undermine the entire U.S. automotive industry," reports Bloomberg.
In BMW's letter to Ross, the Munich-based automaker cited its South Carolina plant that employees 8,000 workers and produces nearly 500,000 luxury SUVs each year. The majority of the vehicles are imported to other countries, including the EU and Canada. The company suggested that it could move production if it becomes unprofitable to continue operations in the U.S., reports The Drive.
Related: Trump Floats Tariffs on Imported Vehicles, Parts
More Vehicle Research

2027 Toyota Camry Offers Hybrid Powertrain Across Five Grades
The 2027 Toyota Camry is a carryover with new pricing.
Read More →
Chevrolet Updates 2027 Trax and Trailblazer with More Standard Safety Features
Chevrolet is updating two of its smallest SUVs with added driver-assistance technology, redesigned interiors, and revised trim options. The changes could add more safety equipment as standard for commercial fleets, while a new Trailblazer configuration adds another all-wheel-drive option.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Rise 5.8% Through September 2026
September commercial fleet sales were essentially unchanged from a year earlier, slowing year-to-date growth while keeping volume ahead of 2025.
Read More →
Hall of Fame Inductee: John Dmochowsky
The longtime Mondelēz International fleet executive joins the Automotive Fleet Hall of Fame.
Read More →
Hall of Fame Inductee: Lee Miller
After more than four decades at Boehringer Ingelheim, Lee Miller leaves a legacy built on fleet expertise.
Read More →
Hall of Fame Inductee: Mark F. Petersen
From managing fleets of thousands of vehicles to advancing safety and mentoring fellow professionals, Mark F. Petersen made his mark across both the corporate and supplier sides of fleet.
Read More →
When Charger Downtime Becomes a Fleet Availability Problem
As EV deployments move beyond pilot programs, charger reliability can directly affect vehicle readiness, driver productivity and route scheduling.
Read More →
2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid Adds e-POWER, Standard AWD
The new Rogue Hybrid uses Nissan’s e-POWER system with dual electric motors, offers an estimated 40 mpg and starts at $35,490.
Read More →
2027 Subaru Forester Adds First Wilderness Hybrid
The 2027 Forester lineup starts at $29,995 and adds a Wilderness Hybrid with 194 combined horsepower and 9.3 inches of ground clearance.
Read More →
EV Realty Names Henrik Holland President as Charging Platform Expands
The former Prologis Mobility and Shell executive will help expand EV Realty’s truck charging business and move its power-first infrastructure model into autonomous vehicle depots and other fleet sectors.
Read More →