German car exports to U.S. slide in April, May as tariffs hit
Drone view shows Volkswagen Group cars bound for cargo ship export to the United States at the seaport of Emden near the estuary, where the River Ems flows into the North Sea, in Emden, Germany, April 2, 2025. REUTERS
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Auto exports to the U.S. fell by 13% in April and 25% in May from the same months the previous year, VDA said. Some 64,300 vehicles were shipped to the U.S. over both months, it added.
In a bid to strengthen U.S. industry, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on car imports from the EU in April. Since May, it has also applied to car parts.
"Every effort must be made to find a political agreement between the EU and the U.S. as quickly as possible - a free trade agreement should continue to be a long-term goal. However, speed plays a decisive role," VDA's head Hildegard Mueller said.
Trump has set a deadline of July 9 for a deal with the EU.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged the EU to settle a tariff dispute with the United States quickly to protect core industries, such as cars, steel and pharmaceuticals.
German car manufacturers are likely to have incurred costs of around half a billion euros in April due to the tariffs, Mueller estimated in June.
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