by American buyers fear that the cost of new cars will rise sharply due to the actions of the US administration. These concerns are prompting many to purchase vehicles before the expected price hike, which led to a significant increase in sales in April. Some manufacturers recorded double-digit growth rates, but this dynamic may change quickly.
Although some companies will publish April data only at the end of the quarter, Ford has already reported the sale of 207,713 vehicles under the Lincoln and Ford brands. This is 16.3% more compared to the same period last year.
American Honda also experienced increased demand – sales grew by 18.1% to 137,656 units. Mazda demonstrated similar positive dynamics with a 21% increase (37,660 cars).
Toyota recorded a 7.9% growth (197,871 cars), while Lexus sold 35,174 vehicles. Volvo reported a 5.2% increase, and Subaru – only a minimal growth of 0.3%.
Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive, explains this buying boom as an anticipation of future price increases due to tariffs. Manufacturers have temporarily fixed prices until June, which encourages buyers to act faster.
According to the expert, the market has reached its peak due to limited supplies and high prices. Unlike 2021, consumers are no longer willing to buy a car at any cost, which may lead economists to study the phenomenon of price elasticity of demand.
