Automaker representatives are already holding active consultations with the US government. In particular, it is proposed to reduce import duties for brands that not only supply cars to the US market but also have their own production facilities in the country and export products beyond its borders. According to preliminary data, a decision could be made fairly quickly — provided that European companies agree to invest additional funds in local plants.
The German side provides compelling evidence: this is not about ordinary contract assembly, but full-fledged production. For instance, the BMW plant in Spartanburg (South Carolina) is among the largest in the world: over 11,000 people work there, and since its launch, the enterprise has produced more than 7 million cars, with 225,000 vehicles exported in 2023 alone.
Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa (Alabama) produces several SUVs, including the electric EQE and EQS, and will soon also start series production of the GLC model there. At Volkswagen's facilities in Chattanooga (Tennessee), 175,000 cars were manufactured last year, including the electric ID.4. The annual salary of workers there exceeds $60,000 — more than the state average.
