President Donald Trump gave the U.S. auto industry the biggest government-sponsored gift it has received since the 2008 auto bailouts.
His 25% tariffs on auto imports give Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors (GM) — collectively known as the U.S. Big 3 — a leg up on the competition.
U.S. car buyers have flocked to dealerships this year, hoping to beat the tariffs before they take effect and take advantage of the incentives dealers have pushed to move inventory.
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The tariffs are designed to give domestic producers an advantage over foreign automakers, who must import more of their vehicles.
But General Motors and Stellantis import a lot more of their vehicles than one might think.
Only 52% of the 2.7 million vehicles GM sold globally last year were “made in the USA.“
Of the Big 3, GM isn't even ahead of Stellantis (57%), a multinational conglomerate based in Europe, in terms of domestic production.
Ford leads the way, with 77% of the cars it sells originating from the States.
The other issue American car companies face is that Americans love their foreign cars, which are increasingly made in the U.S.
Japan exports about $41 billion of cars to the U.S. annually. Toyota sold over 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, a 3.7% year-over-year increase. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the company built 1.96 million units in the U.S., according to Statista.
So a company like GM has to go above and beyond to win back customers. But its latest recall suggests it still has a lot of work to do.
Image source: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
General Motors recalls over 62,000 vehicles due to fire risk
The Chevy Silverado is General Motors' best-selling full-size pickup truck, selling more than 550,000 last year, according to GM Authority.
It was the second most popular full-size pickup behind the F-150, which sold nearly 760,000 vehicles last year.
However, sales have flattened in recent years, and the latest news will not help the brand regain its previous success.
On Thursday, GM announced that it has recalled 62,468 Chevrolet Silverado models in 4500 HD, 5500 HD, and 6500 HD.
GM initiated the recall due to a brake pressure sensor assembly that could leak brake fluid into the brake pressure switch, causing a short circuit, which could overheat the circuit and cause a fire.
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Most impacted vehicles are 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 5500 HD trucks made between January 20, 2023, and March 19, 2024. General Motors said about 10,097 of them run the risk of malfunctioning, USA Today reported, citing manufacturing records.
GM says it will replace the brake pressure switch wire harness for free. It notified dealers of the issue on June 12 and will mail letters to owners by July 28.
Until repairs can be completed, GM advises owners to park their Silverados outside and away from buildings.
General Motors spends big on American manufacturing with $4 billion move
General Motors (GM) said earlier this year that auto tariffs will wipe out between $4 billion and $5 billion in EBITDA this year.
But GM CEO Mary Barra still backed the taxes, saying, “For decades now, it has not been a level playing field for us automakers globally, with either tariffs or non-tariff trade barriers. So I think tariffs is one tool that the administration can use to level the playing field.“
GM says it plans to invest $4 billion to move its Mexico production to three plants in the U.S., including the recently closed Orion Assembly plant in its hometown of Detroit.
“We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” Barra said in a statement. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S. and to support American jobs. We're focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love.”
According to The Detroit News, GM will build full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups at the Orion plant, which closed in 2023.
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