Trump claims production and investment are expanding in US auto industry

US President Donald Trump has claimed that production and investment in the country's auto industry have increased due to his trade policies. According to industry observers, although some sectors have seen improvement, policy uncertainty has put companies in a difficult position.

During Trump's latest term, major companies such as General Motors, Toyota and Ford have announced plans to expand American factories and bring some production from abroad back home. According to media reports, after a tariff of about 25 per cent was imposed on imported vehicles, some companies are preparing to make greater use of their domestic factory capacity.

According to auto industry analyst Stephanie Brinley, import duties have brought some benefit to the industry. However, she said companies have become cautious about long-term investment decisions because trade policies keep changing.

The ongoing trade negotiations between the United States and Canada have also added uncertainty to the industry. Honda has said its North American factories are running at high capacity and that it is considering building new factories.

Changes in import duties and government policy on electric vehicles have also affected auto parts manufacturers. According to media reports, about 930,000 people work in the auto parts sector. According to US labour statistics, about 1.8 million people were employed in the auto industry in September 2026.