BMW instructed sellers it plans to freeze EV manufacturing within the US in Might because it offers with the uncertainty surrounding the brand new auto tariffs. Regardless of the pause, BMW mentioned it gained’t elevate costs on most imported autos. A minimum of, for now.
Why is BMW pausing EV manufacturing within the US?
After celebrating the meeting of its seven millionth automobile within the US this week, BMW, like most main automakers, is bracing for a shakeup beneath the Trump Administration.
In keeping with Automotive Information, BMW instructed its sellers on April 29 that it’ll “postpone” EV manufacturing within the US in Might. The word didn’t specify a purpose, however it’s greater than possible on account of Trump’s 25% tariff on automobile imports.
The luxurious automaker has had extra success than most of its friends with 4 electrical autos: the i4, i5, i7, and iX. Nevertheless, all 4 are inbuilt Germany.
Within the first three months of 2025, BMW bought 13,538 EVs, up 26% from Q1 2024. The i4 was BMW’s prime vendor with gross sales surging 57% to 7,125, adopted by the iX at 3,626. Compared, Mercedes-Benz bought simply 3,472 electrical autos within the US within the first quarter, down 58% year-over-year (YOY).
Sebastian Mackensen, President & CEO of BMW of North America, mentioned the corporate “stays in a robust place within the US, the place nearly all of the autos we promote on this market are additionally assembled.”
BMW additionally instructed sellers within the memo that it’ll not elevate costs on most imported autos by June. The one exception is the two Sequence and M2 efficiency coupe.
The information comes after most main automakers, together with GM, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Stellantis, withdrew their monetary steering this week as a result of uncertainty attributable to Trump’s tariffs.
Earlier in the present day, Ford CEO Jim Farley instructed CNN, “We’re all making an attempt to determine this out to do the precise factor for the nation,” including, “It’s going to take a while.” Within the meantime, count on to see extra drastic measures being taken.
