by Car manufacturers are raising prices, but not obviously
“Stealth is a good word for this,” says Morris Smith III, a dealer from Kansas. He means that car manufacturers, including Ford, are finding ways to get more money without changing official prices.
For those working in the car business, this is not news. But ordinary buyers may not know that the recommended price is just the beginning. The real cost is formed by additional payments, reduced bonuses, and hidden changes that are not indicated on the price tag.
Numbers don’t lie
Statistics show that the average price of cars in April increased by 2.5% — the most in the last five years. Discounts fell to 6.7%, and zero-percent credit offers became rare. Although manufacturers assure that prices are not changing, buyers are already paying more.
“On the consumer side, they see a price increase of several thousand, and the manufacturer says: ‘No, we didn’t raise prices’,” explains Smith III.
Inevitable changes
Due to new tariffs, price increases are only a matter of time. Mercedes plans to add 3-5% to the cost of 2026 models, BMW — 1.9%, Volvo — 4%, and Subaru has already raised prices by 4.2% since November.
Manufacturers may also reduce standard equipment or make expensive models even more expensive to compensate for losses on budget cars. For example, the new Ford Escape may cost a little more, but the next Mustang will likely be significantly more expensive.
It is obvious that cars will not become cheaper in the near future, regardless of marketing statements. Buyers should be careful and take into account all hidden costs.
