Japanese Carmakers Deny U.S. Price Hikes Tied to Tariffs

Tokyo – Major Japanese automakers have stated that recent vehicle price adjustments in the United States are not directly linked to tariffs imposed under the Trump administration.

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan each confirmed that while operational costs and product updates have led to some changes in pricing, tariffs have not been the driving factor. Japan was initially hit with a 25% tariff on automobiles exported to the U.S. in April, later reduced to 15% following a trade agreement reached in July.

Toyota clarified that its price increases in July were part of an annual adjustment to reflect operational expenses, not a response to tariffs. The company added that its stance has been to avoid burdening customers with higher costs while trade negotiations continued. Despite this, Toyota has estimated the impact of tariffs at 450 billion yen ($3.03 billion) in the first quarter of its current fiscal year, projecting a total effect of 1.4 trillion yen for the year.

Honda explained that its 2026 model prices are tied to additional features that enhance vehicle value rather than tariff-related costs. The automaker emphasized its strong U.S. manufacturing presence, with more models ranked on the American-Made Index than any other brand.

Nissan similarly denied raising prices due to tariffs, noting that it has leveraged U.S.-based production to offset added costs. The company said it continues to manage inventory carefully to meet consumer demand while maintaining competitive pricing.

Industry analysts suggest that while the tariff measures create financial pressure, Japanese automakers are attempting to absorb much of the impact rather than risk losing market share in the competitive U.S. market.