Supreme Court ruling on tariffs will have these impacts on automakers

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By Grant Schwab, gschwab@detroitnews.com

Even though the pending U.S. Supreme Court case over President Donald Trump’s expansive global tariffs does not directly address motor vehicle-specific levies, the high court’s ruling could still have billion-dollar implications for the auto industry.

The direct manufacturing cost to car and truckmakers from the tariffs in question, according to one high-level estimate, could approach $1.8 billion annually. The Ann Arbor-based Center for Automotive Research arrived at that figure assuming current sourcing and production patterns and a 15% tariff rate following the high court’s ruling.

That estimate tallied the cost of items not covered by separate and less-disputed tariffs on vehicles, auto parts, alu