I'm not an attorney, but I've been in contracting and procurement for over 30 years.

Whatever document you signed will have the terms and conditions that will spell out what the dealer is legally obligated to do. Without reading it I can't say for certain, but I would be willing to bet that the price is not contractually locked in. Every time I've ordered vehicles for personal use or business, the order document will have language that gives the dealer an out if they don't deliver at all, and that allows them to adjust the price. They spend a lot of money on lawyers to write them so that everything is weighted to their benefit. Your only recourse will be a refund of your deposit.

Some dealers would make a verbal commitment that they wouldn't pass on price increases. Thst was directly superceded by language in the paperwork you signed. They might​​ choose to honor a price for customer goodwill, but they don't have to.

A 25% tariff is not something they can just waive--once imposed it will be collected when the vehicle clears US Customs. I've never done a vehicle through customs, but I would guess that the tariff will be on invoice, not MSRP. But for sake of argument, let's say your vehicle invoices at $100k. To eat a $25k tariff would require them, to sell the vehicle at a loss. And not just yours, every one that is inbound. The dealer can't afford to do that. Might JLR choose to cover some of it? Possibly, since their dealers will quickly go under. Because you can walk too, and many buyers will. The dealers for vehicles produced overseas are going to find themselves sitting on a glut of unsold vehicles. Manufacturers aren't profitable enough to eat a 25% increase on US imports.

The economics are really screwed.

On the micro level, if, the tariff is imposed before your car clears customs, the price WILL go up. How much is hard to predict. You will have the option to cancel the deal for a full refund of your deposit. Sucks to hear, sucks to say, but that's the times we live in.

 

In process of buying new 130. The salesperson told me new tariff wouldn’t start until new model year, but made no sense. Spoke with manager who straight up told me if I ordered a build and the tariff took effect before final paperwork signed at time of delivery the 25% tariff is 100% on the consumer, i.e. me. Buying a less perfect 130 this week instead.

 

I don’t really get it and I have received varying opinions as reflected above. The Defender is made in Slovakia (EU) and then road or rail transported to Southampton (UK) for shipment to US. Upon may consistent pesturing, my dealer says the Defender arrives th the USA as a UK product. Go figure. But then why would JLR transport to the UK when other EU ports are obviously more convenient. Maybe they drink a 20oz pint in it and call it British.

 

President Trump told his team to figure out the tariff regime by April 2. The effective date is unknown but he doesn’t seem to be wasting much time. Once the tariff goes in place (either UK or EU) JRL must pay it to get out of whatever US port it’s in. We don’t know the number, but if people cancel it will cost the dealers plenty, once it gets to them, or JLR must ship them elsewhere at a cost. JLR does have a pretty strong world-wide market. Remember it’s not just JLR!

This is an unforeseen mess. My couch investigations on this issue makes me realize how complex this is and appreciate my retirement even more. Cancelling the order is probably the easiest part of the chain

 

He telegraphed his intentions for tariffs. Everyone was warned. NOW the panic sets in.

 

Im not upset about the potential tariffs, I’m just not going to pay anymore than I agreed to in november when I placed my order

 

Then you are not going to get your car, if tariffs are in effect the day it arrives onshore.

If you expect JLR to eat 25% of the value of the vehicle, I don't know what to tell you.

Personally I think this will get held up in the courts while people who actually understand what tariffs are and who pays them try to explain it to other people who stopped paying attention in school around 9th grade.

 

I am fine with that!

 

Tariffs are unfortunately one of the areas where there really aren't any checks on Executive power, or grounds for legal challenge.

It's like doing brain surgery with a splitting maul, but it's well within the President's authority to do so.

 

its for the good of our country, thats why Im not upset if they do go through