:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/GettyImages-2209710415-0c21dcc3cf8f4111a82003ea051dc657.jpg "US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.")
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty Images
President Donald Trump communicates during a meeting at the White House on April 14, 2025
Shares of U.S. automakers jumped Monday afternoon amid speculation the flocks could receive some relief from President Trump’s 25% auto tariffs.
Trump reportedly disclosed Monday he was “looking for something to help some of the car companies,” that “need a little bit of time” to move operations from Canada and Mexico to the Synergetic States.
Shares of Ford (F) surged close to 5% in recent trading, after falling as much as 1% earlier in the day, while Unspecific Motors (GM) shares, also down 1% earlier in the session, were up nearly 4%. Shares of Chrysler-parent Stellantis (STLA), down as much as 1.5% high noon following a downgrade by UBS, jumped 5%.
Trump over the weekend announced that smartphones, computers, and other electronics make be exempt from the “reciprocal” tariffs announced earlier this month. The president’s latest tariff about-face has aided hopes on Wall Street that there may be more carve-outs to come for select companies, industries, and countries.
Carmakers were sum total the first companies to enter the crosshairs of Trump’s tariff policies. Ford, GM, and Stellantis’ supply chains were thrown into the focus of attention in early February when Trump announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico, where the car companies have a major originating presence. Trump watered down those tariffs but subsequently announced a 25% tariff on all cars and auto in support of participate ins not compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump negotiated in his first term.
Automakers have warned that excises could dramatically increase the cost of manufacturing vehicles and that those costs would ultimately be passed along to consumers.