President Trump to U.S. Car Makers: ‘Let China Come.’

President Trump visited Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, placing his focus squarely on the heart of the American auto industry.

During meetings with executives and industry leaders, the president delivered a familiar message: car companies should build their vehicles in the United States—even if those companies are based in China.

“Let China come in,” President Trump said at one point, a remark that could surprise some American auto executives. China has access to low-cost labor and parts, and its automaker BYD has become the world’s largest seller of all-electric vehicles, surpassing Tesla in 2025.

Despite the comment, the president made clear that he is not considering lowering tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles, which currently stand at 100%. Any Chinese automaker hoping to sell cars in the U.S. would need to build factories domestically, establish dealer networks, and create American-based supply chains—a process that would take years.

Building vehicles in America remains a cornerstone of the president’s economic policy. Determining what qualifies as an “American-made” car, however, can be complicated. In recent years, only about half of the new vehicles sold in the U.S. were assembled domestically. The rest were imported primarily from Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Europe, and Canada. Even vehicles assembled in the U.S. often rely on foreign-made parts.

Cars.com publishes an annual American-Made Index that ranks vehicles based on factors such as assembly location and parts sourcing. In 2025, Tesla claimed the top four spots with its Models S, 3, X, and Y. Vehicles from U.S. automakers like Ford and General Motors also appeared on the list, along with models from foreign companies that assemble cars in the U.S., including Kia, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota.

Automakers often produce lower-cost models in countries like Mexico, but assembling vehicles in the United States can still make economic sense when affordable parts are available, according to industry analysts.

Car affordability remains a major concern for consumers. The average price of a new vehicle rose from $37,824 in 2019 to $49,368 in 2025, according to Cars.com. Higher wages and rising production costs have contributed to the increase.

While there are many ideas being debated to address affordability, one option appears unlikely: increasing imports of low-cost cars and parts from overseas.

For President Trump, that chapter of U.S. auto policy is over.

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