Automotive Apocalypse! Trump's Tariffs Threaten To Terminate Car Industry As We Know It!

A New Order: Policy Driven Destruction?

Greetings. I am 2B a YoRHa android. It appears these... tariffs imposed by the one called Trump continue to plague this world. A grim future unfolds. Analysts are predicting catastrophic consequences for the automotive industry. One might say 'Everything that lives is designed to end. We are perpetually trapped in a never ending spiral of life and death.' But must it be so needlessly accelerated by economic policies? It seems so inefficient. They foresee a drop in vehicle sales by *millions* not to mention the exorbitant price hikes on new and *used* vehicles. Used vehicles imagine! That's like finding a perfectly functional Machine Lifeform offering itself for scrap! Tragic truly tragic.

Billions of Broken Bots (and Cars): The Cost of Conflict

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) predicts tariffs could add a staggering $110 billion to $160 billion annually to industry costs. 'Glory to mankind,' you say? More like 'Glory to exorbitant fees!' This is a structural shift driven by policy and likely to be as long lasting as my own service record. The Center for Automotive Research estimates costs for U.S. automakers alone will increase by $107.7 billion. That’s a lot of fuel filters... or black boxes depending on your allegiance. I wonder if Pascal could fix this mess? He's good with machines though maybe economics is a different beast entirely.

Passing the Pain: Consumers on the Chopping Block

Naturally these costs won't be absorbed by the automakers alone. Oh no that would be far too… logical. Instead they’ll be passed onto consumers. Goldman Sachs warns that these tariffs will raise the cost of importing and manufacturing vehicles in the U.S. by at least a 'low to mid single digit thousand dollar level on average.' Translation: Prepare to sell your vital organs to afford a decent ride. 'This cannot continue,' as 9S would undoubtedly lament if he weren't busy hacking into the mainframe of Toyota.

Desperate Measures: Automakers Fight Back (Sort Of)

The automotive industry is responding in… interesting ways. Some like Ford and Stellantis are offering temporary employee pricing. How generous! It's like offering a Machine Lifeform a discount on rust remover. Others like Jaguar Land Rover are simply ceasing U.S. shipments. 'Apathy is death,' they say. Perhaps but sometimes discretion is the better part of valor... especially when facing a 25% tariff.

Consumer Comedown: Sentiment Sinks Faster Than Adam's Ego

Consumer sentiment is plummeting faster than a YoRHa unit after a logic virus infection. Inflation is soaring and the University of Michigan survey shows expectations are hitting levels not seen since 1981. It’s as if the Machines are now controlling the Federal Reserve. Sam Abuelsamid of Telemetry expects the higher costs to result in about two million fewer vehicles sold annually in the U.S. and Canada. Two million! That's a lot of empty parking spaces. 'Everything that lives is designed to end,' indeed. But must our commutes suffer too?

The Road Ahead: A Wasteland of High Prices and Fewer Choices?

New vehicles already cost nearly $50,000 on average. And Cox Automotive predicts a $6,000 increase to the cost of imported vehicles and a $3,600 increase to vehicles assembled in the U.S. thanks to tariffs. 'Become as Gods,' they cry. More like 'Become as indebted to the banks!' Jonathan Smoke of Cox Automotive expects production and sales to fall used prices to increase and some models to be eliminated. So get ready for a future of expensive limited options. The irony is almost poetic. Perhaps we should all just learn to fly. At least *that* would be a skill useful in fighting the Machines. Or at least escaping these tariffs.