5 cars that are safest from tariffs — and 5 getting hit hardest

President Donald Trump’s transfer to melt his automotive tariffs will reduce the ache, specialists say, nevertheless it nonetheless received’t maintain costs from rising.

Usha Haley is an knowledgeable on autos and auto elements. She is at present the Barton Distinguished Chair in Worldwide Enterprise at Wichita State College and supplied a few of her ideas on winners and losers to Quartz.

“First, no automotive with imported auto elements, which make up 80% of the price of a automotive, is secure as this can be a non permanent reprieve,” Haley says, noting that vehicles with 85% of their elements complying with the United States-Mexico-Canada Settlement, and produced domestically, shouldn’t face tariffs at this level

Tesla

Tesla (TSLA) has had a tough time of it in 2025. Chief govt Elon Musk’s involvement in DOGE turned the corporate right into a political lightning rod, tanking gross sales and sending shares tumbling.

However in response to Motor1 — a trade publication that recently ranked the most and least affected cars — Tesla’s Mannequin 3 Efficiency sits on the prime of the listing, with 87.5% of its manufacturing and building carried out domestically. The Mannequin Y (85%), Cybertruck (82.5%), Mannequin S (80%), and Mannequin X (80%) are additionally atop the index.

“Tesla shall be among the many least affected,” Haley says.

The Motor1 rankings group vehicles by the share of the automotive and elements which might be made within the USA.

Ford

Motor1 ranks Ford’s (F) Mustang GT AT as 80% home.

Kevin Roberts, director of financial and market intelligence at CarGurus (CARG), notes that even with some automotive tariff aid, worth will increase are nonetheless within the offing.

“Whereas this received’t absolutely reverse worth will increase, it’s a transfer in the best path to streamline levies and restrict value burdens that would in any other case be handed right down to customers,” Roberts says, noting that within the month since tariffs on auto imports had been introduced, the common worth of a brand new automotive elevated by practically $650, whereas used automotive costs are up virtually $150—pushed largely by a short-lived surge in demand from consumers trying to keep away from anticipated will increase.

“The impression has been most pronounced within the inexpensive section, with demand for brand new autos priced beneath $50,000 spiking sharply in latest weeks,” Roberts says.

Honda

Motor1 ranks the Honda (HMC) 2024 Passport AWD at 76.5% domestically produced.

George Faracchio, vice chairman of AutoLenders and 28-year auto {industry} veteran, advised Quartz that within the first 30 days of the tariff regime customers can anticipate a modest pricing adjustment based mostly on present stock ranges.

“Nonetheless, as we transfer deeper into the spring and summer time months if tariffs stay in place—whatever the proportion—we count on costs to climb steadily,” Faracchio says.

Jeep

Motor1 places the Jeep (STLA) Wrangler Rubicon at 76%.

Faracchio says because the tariffs stay in place, the worth ache will worsen.

“Over the primary 60 days of tariffs being imposed, automobile stock will tighten, and producers impacted by tariffs shall be pressured to lift their costs,” he says, noting that after this, shopper demand will naturally shift towards the pre-owned market and that shift will drive elevated competitors for used autos, resulting in industry-wide worth will increase.

“The longer these tariffs stay, the extra important the impression shall be in rising demand and escalating costs throughout all segments. This ripple impact will contact every thing from entry-level autos to high-demand SUVs and vehicles,” Faracchio says.

Volkswagen

Motor1 has the Volkswagen (VWAGY) ID.4 AWD (82 KWH) at 75.5% home manufacturing.

“The {industry}’s 90-day outlook factors to lasting disruption, even when tariffs are finally lifted. The market will probably see elevated costs and constrained provide for months, if not longer, as producers, sellers, and customers work to regulate. Briefly, the impression of tariffs isn’t simply fast; it might probably reshape the market effectively past their removing,” Faracchio says.

These vehicles shall be clobbered by tariffs. First on the listing: Mazda

Motor1 lists Mazda’s (MZDAY) Miata as 1% domestically produced. Search for sticker shock on this automotive.

Haley says that total, calculating and implementing these tariffs will end in increased financial prices.

“The non permanent nature of the tariffs will even result in much more intense lobbying by auto corporations, continued financial uncertainty and the shortcoming to interact in strategic planning to convey manufacturing house — supposedly a aim of those tariffs,” Haley says.

Hyundai

Motor1 put the Hyundai (HYMTF) Elantra at 1% domestically produced.

Liz Hempel, a accomplice at McKinsey & Firm, notes that switching manufacturing venues isn’t simple.

“Shifting an auto provide chain takes no less than two years and billions of {dollars}, making fast shifts in manufacturing practically inconceivable,” Hempel says, noting that tariffs, which hit in a single day, solely add to the complexity.

“With seven-year mannequin cycles and specialised infrastructure concentrated in key areas, the automotive {industry} faces distinctive hurdles. Past manufacturing unit relocations, shifting many years of experience is one other main problem,” Hempel notes.

BMW

Motor1 put the BMW (BMWYY) M3 Sedan at 1% domestically sourced.

Hempel notes that tariffs on uncooked supplies, similar to metal and aluminum, are growing prices at each stage of manufacturing.

“McKinsey & Firm recommends a number of strategic responses to mitigate these dangers, together with provide chain diversification, enhanced threat administration, operational flexibility, and lively stakeholder engagement,” Hempel says, including that:

“As we navigate this evolving panorama, it’s important for corporations to rethink their sourcing and supply-chain methods. Those that adapt shortly can flip these challenges into alternatives for long-term success.”

Subaru

Motor1 has Subaru’s (FUJHY) BRZ at 1%.

Showrooms obtained extra site visitors in March as individuals rushed to keep away from the tariffs.

“It makes whole sense. Vehicles are costly capital purchases. With budgets tight and customers more and more cost-conscious, many individuals would like to push out shopping for a brand new automotive. Nonetheless, anybody apprehensive that their automotive will die within the subsequent 12 months is caught in a dilemma: spend much less now or way more later. The prospect of paying a number of thousand {dollars} extra for an already big-ticket merchandise spurred individuals to behave now,” notes John Lash, group vice chairman of product technique at e2open (ETWO), a linked supply-chain platform.

Toyota

Motor1 places the Toyota (TM) GR 86 and GR Corolla at 1%.

“It’s essential to do not forget that tariffs are taxes which companies and customers are pressured to bear. When costs rise, particularly when it’s a big rise, demand falls,” Lash says, asking, so what does this imply for automotive gross sales this yr?

“It implies that after this temporary bounce in March, we must always prepare for an extended and prolonged drop in new automotive gross sales. A drop that can keep in place till tariff coverage adjustments once more,” Lash says.

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