KENNER, La. (WVUE) -At Lamarque Ford and Lamarque Lincoln in Kenner, the dealership’s vice president says their new car inventory has bounced back from the pandemic, just as it has for many auto dealers nationwide.
If you’re in the market for a new car and can afford one, Ronnie Lamarque Jr. says now is a great time to buy.
“Now that we have more vehicles, we’re able to do more deals. So, that’s better for the consumer because the consumer can now say, ‘I’m between these two (cars) and you have a few of them, how can we work on this?’ And that’s a great place to be as a consumer,” Lamarque said.
A stronger inventory benefits buyers, but there are still looming concerns about tariffs and their potential impact on the industry.
“We want to know answers we just don’t quite have yet of what tariffs will be in effect, what won’t,” Lamarque said.
The U.S. auto industry faces some uncertainty as President Donald Trump recently imposed a new set of tariffs on countries like Mexico and Canada, key players in the automotive supply and manufacturing chain. Some estimates suggest the tariffs could increase the price of a new car by more than $10,000.
However, after an urgent conference call this week with the leaders of the three biggest U.S. carmakers, Trump decided to delay certain tariffs on North American-built vehicles for one month.
While the tariffs remain outside of their control, Lamarque says the dealership’s focus remains the same.
“My thing is always, hey, if you got a budget, you come to me, let’s find a vehicle in your budget and it’s my job to try to find that,” he said.
Though it’s unclear how tariffs will ultimately affect the auto industry, Lamarque believes manufacturers will adapt.
“If the tariffs go into effect, I think we’ll see the auto manufacturers pivot and change so that they can still sell consumers vehicles at a price that consumers can afford,” he said.
As for affordability, the average price of a new car is hovering around $48,000, according to Cox Automotive, near a record high. Depending on what happens with tariffs in the coming months, that price could climb even higher.
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