$20,000 hit

Car dealership owner says he'll "likely take a $20,000 hit" on a vehicle if it's not shipped out today

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt and Nicki Brown

Dave Kelleher, the owner of a David Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram car dealership in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, spoke to CNN about how the impending tariffs may impact his business.

Kelleher gave an example of a car that could “go from $30,000 ostensibly to $37,500, and it’s that quick,” he said, snapping his fingers. “And that kind of change in price moves that payment $175 a month, and our customers — they’re middle-class people — they just can’t afford that kind of bump.”

Kelleher also told CNN’s Danny Freeman that he has a customer who ordered a $86,000 Ram truck — which will skyrocket in price if it’s not shipped today, causing Kelleher to likely take a $20,000 hit.

“We’re trying as hard as we can to get that thing off the line today. If that can on a train today, it’ll be without tariff. If it gets on the train tomorrow, it’s going to have a 25% tariff. That $86,000 car becomes a $103,000 car overnight and that customer, he’s going to turn to me. I’m most likely going to eat that. That’s a $20,000 hit that I’m going to take,” he said.

Kelleher said he thinks President Donald Trump’s aim to bring more jobs to the US is “admirable.” But he added:

“I’m telling you right now, the impacts of these tariffs are going to make Americans lose jobs.”

Remember: Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on foreign cars that is set to go into effect on Thursday. A 25% tariff on foreign auto parts is set to go into effect by early May. The president said this past weekend that he doesn’t care if automakers hike prices because of his tariffs, reiterating, “people are going to start buying American cars.”