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INEOS Automotive statement on the US tariffs announcement

INEOS Automotive statement on the US tariffs announcement



We are outraged that the tariff situation with the US has been neglected by the EU.



President Trump has been very clear on his intention to implement tariffs on the auto industry. He has been asking for fairness and reciprocity and yet European leaders have not come to the table to negotiate a better solution.



The US government has also been clear about the consequences of non-engagement. This should be a surprise to no-one in the EU, and it could and should have been averted.



Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive commented: “This is what happens when politicians sit on their hands. As a growing EU-based automobile brand, we are vulnerable to tariffs, and we need our politicians to support our business, our jobs and our economies. We need urgent and direct political intervention on tariffs.



“We will give whatever support we can to our political leaders to keep the playing field even for small, competitive brands such as Grenadier. But we must see action from EU politicians: only they are in a position to address the issue. Fortunately, we have been planning for tariffs but there is only so much we can do to protect US customers from price rises.”
 
Why does Ineos communicates such a statement? Has anyone asked for it? Or is there an exit strategy ahead? There must always be a scapegoat to blame...

AWo
 
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The EU have been imposing 10% tariffs on US cars versus 2.5% US tariffs on EU cars. The EU politicans didn't react to this seemingly unreasonable imbalance.
US vehicles are not a threat to the EU. Most US vehicles are shite or unsuitable for Europe (i.e. too big). So, they wouldn't find a market and having a higher tariff against US is pointless. China is the main danger for Europe with its attempts to flood Europe with cheap subsidised vehicles.

We must not forget the chicken tax though. That is effectively similar to tariffs and exists to limit foreign vehicle makers. So, its not all one sided against the US.
 
Strange announcement..... The EU didn't ask for tariffs. The Trump administration did. so, they are hurting their own markets. The EU is open for talks around all this issues, but the US is announcing every month something else, and is treating the whole world.... and in the end.... all these threats are mainly a message (internal affairs) for own US company's that they need to produce more in the VS and doing less import. More employment in the States, and consumers should buy more home made products instead of import products. So? Don't panic. Keep your head cool, and wait and see.
 
Why does Ineos communicates such a statement? Has anyone asked for it? Or is there an exit strategy ahead? There must always be a scapegoat to blame...

AWo

The best way to "win" with Trump is to kiss his ass. This is Ineos trying to win by appearing to take Trump's side and blaming EU leaders for not engaging with Trump. If you can look yourself in the mirror, this is probably the best strategy Ineos could have taken.
 
Sounds like they want to be on the administration's good side and maybe get an exemption. It might just work!

I'd be surprised if the 25% tariff sticks though. Congress critters will be freaked out by the idea of bankrupt car dealers and irate consumers. Most likely the EU drops some tariff on marshmallows or whatever and everyone calls it a win.
 
The days of isolationism are long past. It would take decades to completely retool auto manufacturing in the US with tariffs alone. Even if a few tens of thousands of workers were to (supposedly) receive higher wages, the vast majority of Americans will not be able to afford a completely "US built" new vehicle. That encourages inflation. Since Wall Street will not suffer a reduction in profits, they will extract their shekels from retirement, health care, wages, and Social Security. To cut costs they need to turn the environment into the waste land it was in the 1960s. I saw the rust belt back then with skies darkened by hundreds of towering smokestacks belching black, orange, purple, and brown soot into the sky. It stank. I remember Erie burning. It was horrific.

Now, that all happens in China and other countries with rock bottom wages and little regulation. If the US tries to compete with that it will be a bullet train to the bottom for the Average Joe. Plus, at any moment, China can elect to take a short term loss and temporarily flood the market with even cheaper cars which would crush any fledgling US manufacturing sector. OPEC has been doing it effectively for half a century to US oil production.

The tariff gambit is an attempt to make a few new billionaires within the inner circles of the current administration. Nothing more. Long term it's a return to peasantry. Rant over.

p.s. - Truly sorry, Europe. You're on your own now.
 
However, Merceds-Benz is present in the US since 1888, runs 24 sites in 13 states with 11,100 employees and 348 resellers which employ another 28,000 people. All in all Mercedes-Benz is responsible for 163,000 US jobs incl. suppliers etc. I don't know if that are not the better arguments for an exception.

AWo
 
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BMW and VW/Audi have significant presence in the US too. Iirc, all the X and Z model BMW's are made in the US. Same with the Audi Q models and their VW counterparts.
 
Any big car player runs plants in other regions. That makes many things easier, of course. That was done in the past and it will happen in the future. That is normal, as it is for other industrial branches.

AWo
 
However, Merceds-Benz is present in the US since 1888, runs 24 sites in 13 states with 11,100 employees and 348 resellers which employ another 28,000 people. All in all Mercedes-Benz is responsible for 163,000 US jobs incl. suppliers etc. I don't know if that are not the better arguments for an exception.

AWo
The tariff includes 25% on parts so even if the vehicle is manufactured here in the US but the parts are manufactured outside, you get hit with tariff. This is a blanket tariff and he has stated no exceptions as even US manufacturers who build cars in Mexico and Canada are affected.
 
However, Merceds-Benz is present in the US since 1888, runs 24 sites in 13 states with 11,100 employees and 348 resellers which employ another 28,000 people. All in all Mercedes-Benz is responsible for 163,000 US jobs incl. suppliers etc. I don't know if that are not the better arguments for an exception.

AWo

That's a drop in the bucket. The US population is 340 Million. On top of that modern car manufacturing plants are highly automated. Any new plants will be even more so to offset manufacturing development costs.

MBGAF is also a publicly traded stock. In theory any detrimental effect on the corporation's value will be felt by the 60+% of Americans that have money invested in the stock market often in their retirement portfolio (401K, IRA, etc.).

Tying this back to Ineos... are you hinting that, if Mercedes is granted an exemption, Ineos should transfer majority control to them until the next administration (possibly) re-establishes a rational trade policy?
 
Is that a questionfor me? If, I didn't even thought in that direction. It was more my intention to show the very huge difference in "weight" and (in my oppinion) a MB, BMW etc. has compared to Ineos and these companies might have more "reasons" to get an exception.

But as stated, if economy doesn't force the administration to reject the tariffs, as that was the case with so many decisions of the last weeks, then it seems that no exceptions are granted.

AWo
 
The tariff includes 25% on parts so even if the vehicle is manufactured here in the US but the parts are manufactured outside, you get hit with tariff. This is a blanket tariff and he has stated no exceptions as even US manufacturers who build cars in Mexico and Canada are affected.
My understanding is that the tariff is on the percent of inputs of the individual car. Below are the first 25 cars on that list. The source is: https://kogod.american.edu/autoindex/2024 Take a look at the much longer source list. A Pathfinder his more domestic than a Ford Explorer. Turns out my last Bronco was only 45% domestic. That's going to earn it a 11.25% tariff even though it is "make in America". These tariff's are a negotiation tool and will not last.

RankCarlineTotal Domestic ContentManufacturersMakes
1Model 3 Performance87.5TeslaTesla
2Model Y Long Range85TeslaTesla
2Model Y85TeslaTesla
3Cybertruck82.5TeslaTesla
4Model S80TeslaTesla
4Model X80TeslaTesla
4Mustang GT AT80Ford Motor CompanyFord
4Mustang GT 5.0L80Ford Motor CompanyFord
4Mustang GT Coupe Premium80Ford Motor CompanyFord
5Passport AWD76.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
5Passport Trailsport76.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
6Wrangler Rubicon76StellantisJeep
6Wrangler Sahara76StellantisJeep
7ID.4 AWD 82KWH75.5VolkswagenVolkswagen
7Colorado 2.7L75.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
7Canyon 4WD AT4 Crew Cab75.5General Motors LLCGMC
7Canyon Denali 4WD Crew Cab75.5General Motors LLCGMC
7Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD 2.7L75.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
7Colorado Z71 Crew Cab 4WD 2.7L75.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
8ID.4 RWD 62KWH74.5VolkswagenVolkswagen
9ID.4 RWD 82KWH74VolkswagenVolkswagen
9Odyssey All74Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
9Ridgeline74Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
9Pilot All74Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
10Corsair73.5Ford Motor CompanyLincoln
11Air73Lucid MotorsLucid
11Mustang GT MT73Ford Motor CompanyFord
12Corvette Z0672.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
12Camaro 1LS Coupe Turbo72.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
13TX 35071.5ToyotaLexus
13RDX All71.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Acura
13Accord 1.5T Sport SE71.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
13Accord 2.0T TRG71.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
13TLX All other71.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Acura
13Integra A-Spec71.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Acura
14Model 3 RWD70TeslaTesla
14Corvette Sting Ray70General Motors LLCChevrolet
15Malibu LS, LT69.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
15XT469.5General Motors LLCCadillac
16K569Kia MotorsKia
16Sorento69Kia MotorsKia
16CR-V 1.5T FWD EXL69Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
16CR-V 1.5T AWD LX69Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
16Civic 5DR69Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Honda
16Integra69Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Acura
16CT569General Motors LLCCadillac
16CT469General Motors LLCCadillac
17Tahoe 4WD LT 3.0 L Turbo Diesel68.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
17Escalade68.5General Motors LLCCadillac
17Suburban 4WD Premier 6.2L V-868.5General Motors LLCGMC
17Yukon 4WD Denali 6.2L68.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
17Silverado Crew 4WD 3.0L TD STD Box68.5General Motors LLCGMC
18Hummer EV68General Motors LLCChevrolet
19Model 3 Long Range67.5TeslaTesla
20Camry SE AWD67ToyotaToyota
21ES 25066.5ToyotaLexus
21ES 35066.5ToyotaToyota
21Tundra66.5ToyotaToyota
21Sportage EX FWD66.5Kia MotorsKia
21Sportage X-Line AWD66.5Kia MotorsKia
21Santa Cruz66.5Hyundai Motor CompanyHyundai
22F 150 2.7L, 5.0, 5.2L66Ford Motor CompanyFord
22Mustang GT 2.3L66Ford Motor CompanyFord
22Escape 2.0L66Ford Motor CompanyFord
23Camaro 1LT, 2LT, 3LT Auto65.5General Motors LLCChevrolet
23XT565.5General Motors LLCCadillac
23XT665.5General Motors LLCCadillac
24Highlander64.5ToyotaToyota
24Durango GT Plus AWD64.5StellantisDodge
24MDX AWD64.5Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Acura
25Sequoia Hybrid64ToyotaToyota
25Tundra Hybrid64ToyotaToyota
25Wrangler Rubicon 4xe64StellantisJeep
25Gladiator Mohave 3.6L64StellantisJeep
25Gladiator Willys 4x464StellantisJeep
25Wrangler Willys 4xe64StellantisJeep
25Pathfinder64Nissan North America, IncNissan
25Tuscon FWD VIN=1,4,564Hyundai Motor CompanyHyundai
25Tucson AWD64Hyundai Motor CompanyHyundai
 
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