Tariffs Spike, Polestar Exits U.S.

Auto supply chains are being hit from all sides. Polestar, the Swedish EV brand backed by China’s Geely, is pulling new-vehicle sales out of the U.S. after 2026 because its tech ran afoul of new security rules targeting Chinese ties. Dealers are scrambling to clear inventory, while tariffs on imported vehicles and parts are set to soar to 50% in the U.S. and Canada by 2027. The entire $100 billion North American auto trade—built for seamless border crossings—now faces a tariff maze, and the pressure is on states like Michigan, home to nearly a fifth of U.S. vehicle output.

But policy isn’t the only factor shifting the ground. Ford is moving Lincoln model production from China to the U.S., not just for show but to dodge compliance headaches and future-proof against even tougher trade rules. Meanwhile, Canada is backtracking on EV sales mandates, giving automakers more room to sell hybrids and gas cars just as EV interest dips. And in China, automakers are squeezing three-year product cycles into just one, rapidly scaling new technologies while exporting features and price points that put global rivals on notice.

Featuring insights from Reuters, Time Magazine, WardsAuto, and the IEA, this episode unpacks how policy, demand, and manufacturing speed are redrawing the global auto map.

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