U.S. sees 70% drop in auto imports as tariffs stall shipments
U.S. auto imports fell by more than 70% in May 2025 compared to the previous year, as automakers halted shipments in response to new tariffs, Automotive News reported on June 9.
Maritime shipments of vehicles to the United States declined by 72.3%, with nearly 9,380 fewer 20-foot containers—each equivalent to one passenger vehicle, depending on size—arriving at American ports.
Imports of auto parts and accessories also dropped by 14.8%, a decline experts attribute solely to the new tariffs.
“Importers are pausing, expecting conditions to change in the medium term,” said Jackson Wood, director of industry strategy at Descartes Systems Group.
The data excludes shipments from Canada and Mexico, focusing on maritime imports from Europe and Asia. Before the tariffs took effect in April, automakers had ramped up deliveries to stock dealer inventories.
Current U.S. vehicle inventories average a 66-day supply, but companies will eventually need to resume imports, risking higher prices if tariffs persist.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
