Hey everyone. Yesterday, we launched CDG's Automaker Tariff Tracker— something several of you have been asking for.
Our goal? Help you stay ahead of the curve as things unfold.
Bookmark it here, and check back regularly for updates. More OEMs coming soon.
— CDG
“Tariff” mentions on dealership phone calls are up nearly 4,000%:
In absolute numbers—that’s an increase from 918 mentions to 35,955 over the course of a month.
The reason?
Besides the obvious… dealership staff are using tariffs as a talking point over 67x more than they previously were.
Bottom line: Whether it’s strategic or reactive—it’s clear tariffs have quickly become part of the retail script…
(Data source: Car Wars)
And Tom is seeing it first-hand…
1. Car dealers stay in buy mode despite tariff uncertainty
Dealership buyers are staying active despite concerns over auto tariffs.
The findings:
Haig Partners just reported 16 transactions under purchase agreements—covering 34 stores—and new bids rolling in even after tariff discussions started.
On top of that: The team is preparing to market another 29 stores this month—making it clear that buyers are focused on long-term ownership—viewing short-term disruption as manageable.
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2. Nearly 20% of new car buyers now opt for 84-month loans
The percentage of car buyers opting for 84-month auto loans just hit an all-time high.
By the numbers: Edmunds just revealed that 84-month terms made up of 19.8% of new-vehicle financing in Q1 2025.
And that’s up from 15.8% in Q1 2024 and 13.4% in Q1 2019.
The reason?
A growing number of buyers looking for smaller monthly payments—regardless of the long-term implications.
Big picture: Despite stable interest rates and vehicle prices (for now), affordability remains out of reach for many shoppers—and while seven-year auto loans may offer a quick fix, Edmunds warns they don’t truly solve the problem…
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3. Stellantis temporarily idles key North American plants
Stellantis is pumping the breaks at two key plants in Canada and Mexico in response to auto tariffs.
The timeline:
Stellantis’ Windsor plant, which builds the Chrysler Pacifica and Dodge Charger Daytona EV, will shut down for two weeks—beginning on April 7.
Meanwhile, production at the Toluca plant will remain on hold for the entire month of April.
As a result—about 4,500 workers are on temporary leave just from the Canadian plant, and 900 hourly employees are on leave across a handful of its U.S. plants.
Zooming out: Stellantis is actively working through high inventory levels—but dealers are aware those inventories challenges could flip on a dime if production delays persist.
Canadian prime minister says Canada will match U.S. auto tariffs
China to impose 34% retaliatory tariff on all goods imported from the U.S.
Looking for an EV lease under $200 a month? Here’s what’s available in April
UK EV sales fail to meet 28% target despite March surge, industry data shows
Subprime lenders pull back from non-FICO borrowers
Did you enjoy this edition of the Daily Dealer newsletter?
Thanks for reading everyone.
— CDG
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