PROVING THE EXPERTS WRONG — AGAIN

How America’s auto industry roared back when the predictions said it couldn’t

By Staff Writer
January 6, 2026

For months, the headlines were gloomy and the forecasts dire. Analysts warned that President Donald J. Trump’s Made in America trade agenda would “deal a serious blow to automakers,” “cut sales by millions,” and “drive prices sharply higher.”

They spoke with certainty. They spoke with confidence.
And once again — they were wrong.

“These so-called ‘experts’ could not have been more wrong.”

When the books closed on 2025, the numbers told a very different story — one of resurgence, resilience, and renewed American manufacturing strength.

A Comeback Year the Experts Missed

In 2025, new U.S. vehicle sales rose 2.4%, marking the industry’s strongest performance since 2019. That alone would have shattered the predictions. But the story gets even better.

Major automakers didn’t just survive — they thrived:

“Automakers are thriving — not retreating.”

• Ford reported its best annual sales since 2019, signaling renewed confidence in American-made vehicles.

• General Motors surged to its best SUV sales year in decades, proving demand remains strong when products meet consumer needs.

• Stellantis saw Jeep brand sales rise for the first time since 2018, reversing years of stagnation.

• Honda delivered its best U.S. sales performance since 2021.

• Hyundai achieved record-breaking U.S. sales, defying claims that trade policy would stifle growth.

Perhaps most telling of all: vehicle prices did not spike. Despite dire warnings, tariffs had no negative effect on overall vehicle pricing, dismantling one of the loudest criticisms of the administration’s approach.

Policies That Put Drivers First

This turnaround didn’t happen by accident. It followed a deliberate push by the Trump Administration to remove hidden costs, reward American production, and put consumers back in the driver’s seat.

“This success validates an all-out push to Make Driving Great Again.”

Among the most impactful moves:

• Auto loan interest is now deductible for Americans purchasing made-in-America vehicles, thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — a direct financial win for working families.

• Trump’s trade agenda unlocked massive new U.S. investments from nearly every major automaker, including Ford, GM, Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Nissan, Rolls-Royce, Scout Motors, and more.

• The administration reversed Biden-era fuel economy mandates that would have added nearly $1,000 to the cost of the average new vehicle, saving consumers billions of dollars in the years ahead.

Rolling Back the Hidden Costs

Beyond headline policies, the Trump Administration targeted regulations that quietly drove up costs for everyday drivers.

“The goal wasn’t ideology — it was affordability.”

Actions included:

• Eliminating the widely disliked stop-start engine requirement.

• Approving production of affordable, efficient ‘tiny cars’ to expand consumer choice.

• Revoking state-level electric vehicle mandates that limited options and raised prices.

• Reversing a web of hidden cost increases imposed by prior Democratic policies.

Together, these changes reshaped the market — not by force, but by freeing it to grow.

The Road Ahead

Once again, America was told it couldn’t be done. Once again, the experts spoke — and the results spoke louder.

The U.S. auto industry didn’t collapse under a Made in America agenda.
It accelerated.

“When policy trusts American workers and American consumers, the engine of growth turns over fast.”

As 2026 begins, one thing is clear: the predictions failed, the industry flourished, and the American driver is better off for it.

Sources

• The White House, Trump Policies Power U.S. Auto Sales to Best Year Since 2019, January 6, 2026

• U.S. Auto Industry Sales Reports (2025)

• Statements from Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Honda, and Hyundai annual sales summaries