Trump Announces EU Auto Tariffs Increase to 25%
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.TARIFFS:President Donald Trump said via Truth Social, "I am pleased to announce that, based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The Tariff will be increased to 25%. It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF. Many Automobile and Truck Plants are currently under construction, with over 100 Billion Dollars being invested, A RECORD in the History of Car and Truck Manufacturing. These Plants, staffed with American Workers, will be opening soon - There has never been anything like what is happening in America today! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP" Publicly traded companies in the space include Ford, General Motors, Honda, Lucid Group, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rivian, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyotaand Volkswagen.STRAIT OF HORMUZ:President Trumpin social media, "Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with - They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business. Again, these are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East. I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time. I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all. The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong - They are victims of circumstance. This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran. Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner. I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully."TROOPS IN GERMANY:The Pentagon intends to pull roughly 5,000 American troops from Germany, CBS News' Jennifer Jacobs, citing senior defense officials. The officials described the move as a signal of President Donald Trump's lack of satisfaction with the level of assistance European allies have offered to the U.S. in its war with Iran, Jacobs says. Over 36,000 active duty soldiers were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, Jacobs notes.BUSINESS MIX CHALLENGE:Kevin McGurn faces a challenge as the new head of Trump Media & Technology Group, namely figuring out how to package the company's odd mix of business ventures, The Wall Street Journal's Jennifer Hiller. McGurn is a longtime media executive and adviser who took over last week as interim chief executive of the company, best known as the parent of Truth Social, President Trump's social-media platform. Launched after Trump's ban from Twitter in 2021, Trump Media's businesses span social media, cryptocurrency and most recently, a $6B bet on nuclear fusion, the author notes. "Having those two businesses together or apart will be both options that we weigh, and I think we will pick the best path, but currently, the one that we're pursuing is the spinout," McGurn said in his first interview as interim CEO.
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- First Customer Agreement: Ford Energy announced a five-year agreement with global energy company EDF last week to supply its new battery energy storage systems, marking a strategic pivot towards battery storage that is expected to drive large-scale energy storage initiatives across the U.S.
- Stock Price Momentum: Following the announcement of its new subsidiary, Ford's shares have surged by 11.5% this week, reaching a three-year high, reflecting strong market confidence in the Ford Energy business and rising investor expectations for returns on its $2 billion investment.
- European Market Expansion: Ford is also pushing its Ford Pro commercial business in Europe, rolling out new models and smart vehicle technology to support businesses of various sizes, ensuring it maintains leadership in its most profitable segment and enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Strategic Investment Shift: After writing off significant investments in electric vehicle manufacturing, Ford has redirected $2 billion into Ford Energy, demonstrating its commitment to the battery storage market, which is expected to provide new growth momentum for the company in the future.
- Ford Revenue Growth: Ford reported $23.9 billion in Q1 revenue, a 14% increase year-over-year, driven by strong demand for models like the F-Series, Bronco, and Explorer, indicating its competitive edge and growth potential in the U.S. market.
- Software Subscription Increase: Ford Pro reached 879,000 paid software subscribers, up 30% year-over-year, achieving an 11.4% margin, demonstrating the company's successful transformation in software services and enhancing its long-term profitability.
- EV Investment: Ford is investing $1.5 billion in electric vehicles, despite Model e posting a $777 million loss in the quarter, with full-year losses projected between $4 billion and $4.5 billion, reflecting its commitment and challenges in the EV market.
- GM's Strong Performance: General Motors exceeded expectations with a 41.31% EPS beat in Q1, even as North American wholesale volumes fell to 793,000 units, but managed to increase its margin to 9.7%, showcasing effective strategies in cost control and profit management.
- Market Fragility Concerns: Despite stellar earnings driving stock indexes to all-time highs, Wall Street is worried about narrow leadership, as Matt Stucky, Chief Portfolio Manager at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, noted that such concentration could exacerbate market fragility and impact investor confidence.
- Semiconductor Sector Drive: Micron Technology (MU) crossed the $1 trillion market cap for the first time, becoming the 11th largest public company in the U.S., with its sharp rally contributing 18 points to the S&P 500, highlighting the strong performance of semiconductor and memory-related stocks in propelling the market.
- AI Supercycle: With accelerating demand for AI servers, Dell (DELL) saw its stock soar over 50% last week, while Hewlett Packard (HPE) jumped 12%, indicating that AI-related stocks are leading a new wave of investment interest and attracting more investor attention.
- Future Market Outlook: UBS strategists expect the S&P 500 to rise further in the medium term, targeting 7,900 points, emphasizing that market leadership will broaden beyond megacaps, and recommending diversification into global healthcare, industrials, and infrastructure to navigate market volatility.
- Dividend Appeal: Ford Motor Company often issues supplemental dividends when cash flow is strong, currently boasting a 3.44% dividend yield, which provides stable returns for long-term investors and enhances the company's attractiveness in the capital-intensive automotive sector.
- New Energy Storage Opportunity: The Ford Energy initiative aims for approximately 20 gigawatt-hours of annual production capacity by 2027, with Morgan Stanley analysts predicting it could generate between $500 million and $600 million in EBIT, showcasing Ford's potential in the energy storage market and possibly enhancing its valuation.
- High-Profit Commercial Sales: Ford Pro achieved $6.8 billion in EBIT in 2025 with a 10.3% EBIT margin, significantly outperforming the traditional retail business's 3% margin, indicating a successful transformation in commercial sales that strengthens its market competitiveness.
- Software Subscription Growth: Ford Pro's paid software subscriptions grew by 30% in 2025, reaching 879,000, highlighting the company's potential in high-margin software services and further solidifying Ford's leadership position in the European market.
- High-Margin Business Growth: Ford Pro achieved $6.8 billion in EBIT with a 10.3% margin in 2025, significantly outperforming Ford Blue's $3.02 billion EBIT at a mere 3% margin, highlighting Ford's strong performance in the high-margin commercial customer market.
- Energy Storage Market Potential: Ford Energy aims for approximately 20 gigawatt-hours of annual production capacity by 2027, projected to generate between $500 million and $600 million in pre-tax earnings, with Morgan Stanley valuing this segment at $10 billion, indicating a significant potential to enhance Ford's market valuation.
- Stock Price Surge: Following the announcement of Ford Energy, the stock surged 13% in a single day, marking the largest one-day gain since March 2020, reflecting investor optimism regarding Ford's transformation and new business model, potentially setting the stage for future shareholder returns.
- European Market Strategy: Ford dominates commercial vehicle sales in Europe, with Ford Pro subscriptions growing by 30% in 2025 to reach 879,000 paid users, underscoring its critical role in maintaining factory utilization and enhancing customer loyalty in a challenging passenger car market.
- Micron Stock Surge: Driven by insatiable demand for memory chips in AI applications, Micron's stock soared 29% this week, marking its market capitalization surpassing $1 trillion for the first time, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- UBS Price Target Increase: UBS raised Micron's price target to $1,625, implying a 67% upside from Friday's close, as analysts believe the market will assign a more 'normal' valuation multiple as AI drives structural changes in the memory sector.
- Dell's Impressive Performance: Dell Technologies saw a 33% stock increase this week, achieving its largest single-day gain on Friday, with Q1 revenue of $43.84 billion exceeding analyst expectations of $35.43 billion and a year-over-year growth rate of nearly 88%, showcasing its strong position in the AI data center market.
- Ford's Investor Optimism: Ford Motor's stock rose 17% this week, with an RSI of 80, as analysts noted that optimism surrounding its battery energy storage system has boosted investor sentiment, leading to a price target increase from $17 to $20, indicating a further 15% upside potential.











