Tariff Talk: Subaru To Hike Prices On Some Models

No earth-shattering headlines on the tariffs this week, no new deals struck with any of the countries that supply vehicles to U.S. consumers, but here are the items that caught my attention since we talked a week ago:

• Subaru is hiking prices on several models, they said on Monday, the latest automaker to pass along cost increases to consumers as their expenses rise from the Trump administration's tariffs.  Subaru said in a statement that the increases were made in response to "current market conditions," without citing tariffs or specific price actions.  The Subaru price increases will add between $750 and $2,055 to vehicles depending on the model and trim, according to a notice posted on a dealer website. The price increases are expected to hit vehicles on dealer lots starting in June, according to the notice. Subaru imports 45% of its U.S.-sold vehicles, according to 2024 data from research firm S&P Global Mobility. Its affordable Forester model is one of a handful of lower-cost vehicles set to be most affected by tariffs, according to Cox Automotive. The SUV is getting a price hike of between $1,075 and $1,600 depending on the trim, the dealer notice said.
  
  
• Dodge is dropping the R/T trim of the 2026 Charger Daytona from its lineup because of tariffs. The electric Charger Daytona, which is made in Canada, began arriving at dealerships in January as a 2024 model in two varieties: the R/T and the higher-end Scat Pack.  Slow sales of the model were part of this, but there is little doubt the tariffs were the final blow to the electric Charger R/T.
  
  
• Japan’s trade-reliant carmakers are bracing for a profit pummeling of at least $11 billion, and possibly substantially more, over the coming year as the Trump administration’s war on imports unleashes a tariff turmoil on the world’s No. 2 auto exporting nation.  Much of that pain could be America’s gain as Japan’s manufacturers look to dial up U.S. output.  The tariff impact came into focus over the last two weeks as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi announced weakening financial results.
  
  
• Christian Meunier is the CEO of Nissan of the Americas, and here were some of his thoughts in an interview with Automotive News recently:  "Tariffs are a headwind, but they also present a good opportunity for Nissan to accelerate localization.  We have an advantage because more than 50 percent of our vehicles sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S. We have more production capacity here. I can build more Rogues and maintain our second shift. We can build more Pathfinders and Frontiers. We have more opportunities with Frontier. The product has a durable V-6, whereas others use four-cylinder hybrids, which isn’t the right powertrain for that segment. That’s not what the customers are asking for.  We repositioned Rogue and Pathfinder pricewise at the beginning of April and will put more marketing resources behind those models."
  
  
• Executives and analysts have warned for months that auto tariffs will lead to less vehicle production in North America. That decline is underway the numbers show. The region will produce about 126,000 fewer vehicles this quarter because of tariffs than it otherwise would have, according to an estimate by AutoForecast Solutions. The estimate accounts for production changes announced by automakers through May 1, including both cuts and planned increases.