Earlier this week: President Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs and eliminated steel and aluminum tariff exclusions. General Motors and Ford prepare for the impact of Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Senate Republicans move to scrap federal EV tax credits and impose $1,000 fee on EV purchases. A federal judge blocks Musk’s DOGE from accessing U.S. Treasury payment systems. CDK Global sues Tekion over alleged cyber hacking scheme. Honda and Nissan merger talks conclude unsuccessfully. Harrison Ford stars in Jeep’s Super Bowl commercial.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
1. Trump to announce new reciprocal tariffs, raises steel and aluminum duties
On February 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign imports. This move doubled down his stance that other countries had long taken advantage of the United States. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he would unveil the details of the tariffs within the next two days. Read More
2. GM to dodge 50% of tariff costs, Ford sees industry at risk
General Motors and Ford are preparing for the potential fallout of the ongoing trade war, but their outlooks are drastically different. While GM remains confident in its ability to navigate potential tariffs, Ford has sounded the alarm, warning of severe consequences for the U.S. automotive industry. Read More
3. Senate Republicans move to scrap federal EV tax credits, impose new $1,000 fee
On February 12, Senate Republicans introduced two bills to eliminate federal electric vehicle (EV) tax credits and impose a new $1,000 fee on EV purchases to fund road repairs. The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the $7,500 tax credit for new EVs, end the $4,000 tax credit for used EVs, and eliminate federal incentives for EV charging stations and leased EVs. Read More
4. Federal judge blocks Musk’s DOGE from U.S. Treasury access
A federal judge temporarily blocked Elon Musk’s government efficiency team from accessing U.S. Treasury payment systems, citing security and privacy risks. The ruling, issued early Saturday by U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan, came after a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit arguing that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had no legal authority to access the systems. Read More
5. CDK Global sues Tekion over alleged hacking in dealer data battle
The dealership data war between CDK Global and Tekion is heating up as CDK Global launches a federal lawsuit against its rival, accusing Tekion of illegally accessing confidential dealer data in an effort to gain market share through a sophisticated cyber hacking scheme. CDK accuses Tekion of violating unfair competition laws, calling for court intervention to put an end to these alleged practices and restore fair competition. Read More
6. Honda, Nissan officially end merger talks, shift focus toward strategic “partnership”
Honda and Nissan confirmed they will no longer pursue a merger but will continue collaborating through a “strategic partnership” focused on electric and intelligent vehicle development. Despite the initial optimism, disagreements between the companies–particularly over governance and control–ultimately led to the conclusion of the talks. Read More
7. Harrison Ford stars in Jeep’s reflective Super Bowl ad
Legendary actor Harrison Ford headlined Jeep’s two-minute Super Bowl commercial, Owner’s Manual, which aired on Sunday, February 9. The spot, directed by Academy Award-nominated director James Mangold- known for Ford v Ferrari, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny– was produced by Minted Content in collaboration with Stellantis and its Global Chief Marketing Officer Olivier Francois. Read More
8. Trends reshaping the consumer car buying experience – Peter Cooper | Lexus of Lehigh Valley
The car buying experience is rapidly shifting, and customers are the ones setting the rules. Dealers who recognize this shift will thrive, and those who don’t will likely be left behind. Peter Cooper, president and CEO of Lexus of Lehigh Valley, discusses shifts he’s witnessing and how dealers can get ahead to remain competitive. Watch the full segment here.
9. Regulatory uncertainty looms as states consider their own auto sales rules – Shannon Robertson | AFIP
In the wake of the U.S. Appeals Court’s decision to overturn the FTC’s CARS rule, auto dealers may have avoided a major regulatory burden—but the fight isn’t over yet. In today’s episode of CBT Now, Shannon RobertsonExecutive Director of the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals (AFIP), shares his insights on what this ruling means for compliance, consumer transparency, and the future of auto sales regulations. Watch the full segment here.
10. Mission 22: The proven strategy to maximize your sales floor and team’s productivity
In today’s episode of Mind Your Own Business, host Jonathan Dawson breaks down his concept of Mission 22—a game-changing strategy designed to maximize dealership sales performance. The core principle of Mission 22 is simple: if a dealership’s sales team isn’t averaging 22 cars per salesperson per month, the sales floor is fundamentally broken. Watch the full segment here.
