Tariff Tuesday - Big Trouble in Little Crossovers

The Mazda CX50 is a compact that built in the U.S. for Canada and is now paused for production and jobs as they will import them from Japan to avoid the idiotic tariffs.

Then we also have Subaru, Honda and Stellantis that has all paused production of select models that are exported to Canada, Mexico or outside North America for sale that have been paused with temp layoffs due to the tariff's stupidity. 

22 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

The Mazda CX50 is a compact that built in the U.S. for Canada and is now paused for production and jobs as they will import them from Japan to avoid the idiotic tariffs.

Then we also have Subaru, Honda and Stellantis that has all paused production of select models that are exported to Canada, Mexico or outside North America for sale that have been paused with temp layoffs due to the tariff's stupidity. 

To clarify, CX-50 production will remain in the US but will only be for US market customers. The pause is only for Canadian market builds. Mazda is increasing US market builds to make up the difference, likely because they know that other imported models will take a sales hit from the additional taxes and Mazda can capture those with a domestically manufactured CX-50.  Mazda very specifically said in a statement that overall production volume is not expected to change.

10 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

To clarify, CX-50 production will remain in the US but will only be for US market customers. The pause is only for Canadian market builds. Mazda is increasing US market builds to make up the difference, likely because they know that other imported models will take a sales hit from the additional taxes and Mazda can capture those with a domestically manufactured CX-50.  Mazda very specifically said in a statement that overall production volume is not expected to change.

Subaru will be building a ton of stuff apparently for the Canadian and Mexican markets in Japan that was formerly built in the USA.

33 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

The Mazda CX50 is a compact that built in the U.S. for Canada and is now paused for production and jobs as they will import them from Japan to avoid the idiotic tariffs.

Then we also have Subaru, Honda and Stellantis that has all paused production of select models that are exported to Canada, Mexico or outside North America for sale that have been paused with temp layoffs due to the tariff's stupidity. 

It will only get worse. BYD builds buses, SUV's and all sorts of other stuff. They are killing it in every market outside of the USA. If they were alowed to sell inside the USA Tesla would go bankrupt. Quickly. 

BYD is also the biggest selling electric in Brazil, a huge market. 

3 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

It will only get worse. BYD builds buses, SUV's and all sorts of other stuff. They are killing it in every market outside of the USA. If they were allowed to sell inside the USA Tesla would go bankrupt. Quickly. 

I don't know about that. People still have to want to buy a Chinese owned and built vehicle. That's a pretty big sell here unless it were to be vastly cheaper than the competition. 

5 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

Subaru will be building a ton of stuff apparently for the Canadian and Mexican markets in Japan that was formerly built in the USA.

Yes, and we will likely see Subaru shift more crosstrek production to the US for US market with that capacity. It might mean that Forrester production moves here too.

9 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Yes, and we will likely see Subaru shift more crosstrek production to the US for US market with that capacity. It might mean that Forrester production moves here too.

I think Forester production was supposed to move here...before the trade war. Not sure though. 

11 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I don't know about that. People still have to want to buy a Chinese owned and built vehicle. That's a pretty big sell here unless it were to be vastly cheaper than the competition. 

BYD makes great products, I don't think they would face a lot of resistance. 

Prices on all these will go up.  I see ads from manufacturers saying they are protecting MSRP though May or 2025 model year.  But they probably all had 60-100 day supply of vehicles which almost gets them to when 2026 models would start.   And they are going to pull incentives in the short term.  I suspect 2026 MSRP’s are going way up.

5 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

BYD makes great products, I don't think they would face a lot of resistance.

How do you know they make great products? They don't sell anything here, yet. Spec sheets can be amazing and it still not be a good overall product or it could be unreliable as fck. 

7 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

How do you know they make great products? They don't sell anything here, yet. Spec sheets can be amazing and it still not be a good overall product or it could be unreliable as fck. 

He just visited Mexico and had some time looking at the products. I will, say that all my coworkers in other markets where BYD sells autos have pretty positive impressions of BYD as they go Global. I can see BYD surpassing Toyota as the world's biggest auto builder.

44 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

Prices on all these will go up.  I see ads from manufacturers saying they are protecting MSRP though May or 2025 model year.  But they probably all had 60-100 day supply of vehicles which almost gets them to when 2026 models would start.   And they are going to pull incentives in the short term.  I suspect 2026 MSRP’s are going way up.

Dodge can keep Hornet at pre-tariff pricing until 2027 at the rate they're selling.

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Dodge can keep Hornet at pre-tariff pricing until 2027 at the rate they're selling.

Was wondering what the sales numbers are and I see since it came out, it has gone no where but down. Slowest selling auto for years now.

Dodge Hornet Tops The U.S. Slowest-Selling Vehicle List Again - MoparInsiders

That is pretty pathetic, I honestly have not seen any here in the wild for the PNW, so I do wonder where they are selling.

WOW, just saw that they have a 428-day supply on hand. Crazy

Removing tariffs that idiot47 caused so much pain with for getting nothing in return show how stupid a person can be in not understanding true business and how to negotiate. 

A real man with Business sense would have put together a package of tariffs to present to China to address specific areas that are an imbalance not just attack everything and see what falls out. As such, incompetence in not understanding the long road map to building greatness shows how foolish the current administration is and now they are going to sign an exception list for the auto industry. Destroy good trading partners just to cause Chaos! Never a sound business strategy.

Trump to Sign Order Later Tuesday Easing Auto Tariff Impact

On 4/29/2025 at 1:05 PM, G. David Felt said:

Was wondering what the sales numbers are and I see since it came out, it has gone no where but down. Slowest selling auto for years now.

Dodge Hornet Tops The U.S. Slowest-Selling Vehicle List Again - MoparInsiders

That is pretty pathetic, I honestly have not seen any here in the wild for the PNW, so I do wonder where they are selling.

WOW, just saw that they have a 428-day supply on hand. Crazy

In about 90 days when dealer lots start to run dry, those Hornets might actually start finding customers.  

I have only seen a few on the road.  Mostly they just sit on dealer lots.

7 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

In about 90 days when dealer lots start to run dry, those Hornets might actually start finding customers.  

I have only seen a few on the road.  Mostly they just sit on dealer lots.

Based on sales rates for the auto dealers, it might be 180 days as people who are not forced to buy a new auto are holding off. I am seeing my neighbors who were thinking of getting a new auto have now held off waiting to see where prices go as dealers are already raising prices with add on stickers here about Tariff fee. 😒

I suspect there is some unsavory sales being done too for increased profits.

11 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Based on sales rates for the auto dealers, it might be 180 days as people who are not forced to buy a new auto are holding off. I am seeing my neighbors who were thinking of getting a new auto have now held off waiting to see where prices go as dealers are already raising prices with add on stickers here about Tariff fee. 😒

I suspect there is some unsavory sales being done too for increased profits.

So they're going to wait, knowing prices are going up..? That doesn't exactly make sense. 

40 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

So they're going to wait, knowing prices are going up..? That doesn't exactly make sense. 

Sure, it does, as we have already seen some deals are being made that reduce the tariff compared to what it was before the latest announcements. For those that are not wanting what is on the lot currently or want something made outside the U.S., it totally makes sense that they would hold off and keep driving their older auto.

I am buying a car in 2029.

15 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I am buying a car in 2029.

Honestly, that's probably around when I'd buy again, too. I'm in no rush. I'd love a large EV SUV or truck, but I don't have the monies for an R1S, Lightning, Sierra EV or whenever the Scouts show up. 

I've got less than $3k left on the Avalanche loan. The Chrysler loan final payment is this month. I'll redirect that to finish off the Avalanche early.

I've only got 63k miles on the Avalanche. $75k for an EValanche buys a lot of gas. We're heading into motorcycle season where the truck stays parked as much as possible.  

I think we're just going to be in a holding position on vehicles for a while. 

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I've got less than $3k left on the Avalanche loan. The Chrysler loan final payment is this month. I'll redirect that to finish off the Avalanche early.

I've only got 63k miles on the Avalanche. $75k for an EValanche buys a lot of gas. We're heading into motorcycle season where the truck stays parked as much as possible.  

I think we're just going to be in a holding position on vehicles for a while. 

I think unless your forced to have to buy something, most people are going to wait and see where prices and availability heads. Recession here we come.

On 4/29/2025 at 12:17 PM, ccap41 said:

How do you know they make great products? They don't sell anything here, yet. Spec sheets can be amazing and it still not be a good overall product or it could be unreliable as fck. 

They are well reviewed worldwide with a great reputation.

14 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

I think unless your forced to have to buy something, most people are going to wait and see where prices and availability heads. Recession here we come.

I really would prefer to not buy a car for awhile.

On 5/1/2025 at 7:39 PM, smk4565 said:

I am buying a car in 2029.

I am hoping to leave the country by then, and live in a city with great mass transit. I am hoping to own no cars in 2029.

On 4/29/2025 at 1:05 PM, G. David Felt said:

Was wondering what the sales numbers are and I see since it came out, it has gone no where but down. Slowest selling auto for years now.

Dodge Hornet Tops The U.S. Slowest-Selling Vehicle List Again - MoparInsiders

That is pretty pathetic, I honestly have not seen any here in the wild for the PNW, so I do wonder where they are selling.

WOW, just saw that they have a 428-day supply on hand. Crazy

I have seen one or two on the road in the wild....in Detroit with manufacturers plates.

On 4/29/2025 at 12:25 PM, G. David Felt said:

He just visited Mexico and had some time looking at the products. I will, say that all my coworkers in other markets where BYD sells autos have pretty positive impressions of BYD as they go Global. I can see BYD surpassing Toyota as the world's biggest auto builder.

Yes.