Volkswagen may build Porsche and Audi EVs in the US, thanks to Trump’s tariff tantrum
The next Porsche and Audi EVs could be made in the US. Volkswagen is considering moving Porsche and Audi EV production to the US after Trump threatened new tariffs on Europe, Mexico, Canada, and other major trade partners. Here’s how it would work.
Volkswagen mulls building Porsche EVs in the US
Volkswagen is already feeling the pressure after global deliveries fell 2.3% in 2024 to just over 9 million units. The VW Group, including Audi and Porsche, delivered 744,800 EVs last year, down 3.4% from 2023 (771,100).
Although Volkswagen delivered more electric cars in China (+8.3%), it was after a down year in 2023 as it lost market share to EV leaders like BYD. The company said that despite lower EV deliveries in Europe, it “remains by far BEV market leader” with around 21% market share.
In the US, sales of the sole Volkswagen-brand EV, the ID.4, fell 55% last year due to a recall and the rollout of an updated model. VW sold just over 17,000 ID.4s in the US, compared to nearly 37,800 in 2023.
The luxury Porsche brand didn’t fare much better, with Taycan sales slipping 20% year-over-year. Like the ID.4, the Porsche Taycan received a significant refresh this past year. Porsche also began delivering the electric Macan in late 2024.
According to a new report from Germany’s Handelsblatt, Volkswagen is considering expanding US production for Porsche and Audi EVs.
Sources close to the matter told the German newspaper that the group may set up new production sites for the luxury brands.
All Porsche and Audi EVs are currently built outside the US, making them particularly exposed to an increase in tariffs. The Audi Q5 is built in Mexico, while Porsche EV models are produced in Europe.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump proposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada. Most recently, he threatened new tariffs against the European Union (EU), another one of the US’s main trade partners.
According to insiders, Volkswagen’s most likely option is to expand its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the ID.4 is built.
It could also produce Audi EVs at its upcoming plant in SC, designed for the rugged Scout brand. The report suggests Audi could get a hardcore brand for itself, but that will be after Scout launches in 2027.
Porsche will collaborate with Audi to produce larger electric SUVs in the US, likely the Cayenne EV or the larger “K1” flagship model. The new electric SUVs will be based on VW’s new SSP platform, which will replace its current MEB.
Electrek’s Take
The fresh tariff threats from Trump are the latest headache the Volkswagen Group will have to deal with. It’s already losing market share in key global markets like China as EV leaders like BYD continue gaining momentum with lower-cost and often more advanced vehicles.
Volkswagen is now considering selling multiple German plants they plan to halt production at to Chinese automakers.
After several delays, Volkswagen officially canceled the ID.7, its flagship sedan in the US. The model will only be sold in Europe and China.
With pure EV makers like Rivian and Lucid gaining momentum and a slate of new electric models from GM, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Jeep, Dodge, and several others arriving, will Volkswagen be able to keep pace in the US? Expanding local production may be the best option to even the playing field.
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Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe has posted another interesting facet into the design of the American automaker’s upcoming R2 BEVs. As you’ll see below, the Rivian R2’s body harness has been significantly reduced in size, weight, and connections to enable lower assembly costs and an overall more environmentally friendly build.
If you’re not following RJ Scaringe on social media, you’re missing out. While some CEOs shy away from social media (aside from the guy who bought Twitter to create his own toxic echo chamber), Rivian’s founder has used such platforms to share interesting company progress.
In the past month, much of Scaringe’s content has pertained to the design and development of Rivian’s upcoming R2 model, and we have been all about it. In the past two weeks, RJ has shared a peek at the company’s new Maximus drive unit and photos of the R2 validation builds on a pilot line at the automaker’s facility in Normal, Illinois.
Last week, Scaringe took to Instagram and X once again to share a better look at the inner workings of the Maximus drive unit. The unit was designed to be more compact and efficiently built to help reduce the cost-per-unit production for the Rivian R2 assembly process.
Today, RJ posted more evidence of how much more optimized components of the R2 design will be.
The body harness design of the R2 is significantly simpler
RJ posted the comparison image above to Instagram this afternoon, detailing just how much more streamlined the R2’s body harness design will be compared to the Gen 2 R1 BEVs. The Rivian CEO elaborated with the following caption:
The R2 harness improves massively over the R1 Gen 2 harness. Building on the backbone of our network architecture and zonal ECUs, we focused on ease of install in the plant and overall simplification through integrated design — less wires, less clips and far fewer splices!
Simplified indeed, this reimagined body harness cuts serious weight and connectors. The front section of the body harness, in particular, truly encapsulates just how streamlined the R2’s design components are becoming. A body harness pic may not be the most exciting news to the general public, but as a BEV enthusiast on the Rivian beat, it’s amazing to see, and we hope RJ will continue to post updates like this going forward.
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JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon delivers a speech during the Global Markets Conference, ahead of the Choose France summit, in Paris, on May 15, 2025.
Michel Euler | Afp | Getty Images
JPMorgan Chase is finally allowing clients to buy bitcoin. But CEO Jamie Dimon is still a skeptic.
“We are going to allow you to buy it,” Dimon said at the bank’s annual investor day on Monday. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.”
The decision marks a notable step for the largest U.S. bank, particularly due to Dimon’s history of criticizing the digital currency and the crypto market broadly, and is the latest sign of bitcoin’s entry into mainstream investing. Since August, Morgan Stanley has allowed its financial advisors to pitch some spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds to qualifying clients.
Dimon made it clear that his personal view of bitcoin remains unchanged, highlighting issues like money laundering and the lack of clarity surrounding ownership, along with “the sex trafficking, the terrorism.”
“I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke,” Dimon said. “I defend your right to buy bitcoin.”
A JPMorgan spokesperson declined to elaborate on the bank’s specific plans for bitcoin access. Until now, the company has limited its crypto exposure primarily to futures-based products, not direct ownership of bitcoin.
When crypto valuations were soaring in 2021, Dimon dismissed bitcoin as “worthless.” He told lawmakers during a Senate hearing in late 2023 that he’s “always been deeply opposed to crypto, bitcoin, etc.,” and that, “The only true use case for it is criminals, drug traffickers … money laundering, tax avoidance.” He said at the hearing that, “If I was the government, I’d close it down.”
At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Dimon said, “Bitcoin does nothing. I call it the pet rock.” He added that, “This is the last time I’m talking about the with CNBC, so help me God.”
Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick told CNBC at this year’s event in Davos that the investment bank is exploring ways to deepen its involvement in cryptocurrency markets, navigating the regulatory landscape under the pro-crypto administration of President Donald Trump.
Since President Trump took office in January, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have rescinded their anti-crypto guidance. While banks can now custody crypto, thanks to the repeal of an accounting rule called SAB 121, they still face restrictions on working directly with crypto firms without explicit approval from the Federal Reserve.
Genesis is preparing to introduce its new flagship EV, the GV90. The brand’s largest, most luxurious electric SUV already looks stunning. The Genesis GV90 was spotted with less camo ahead of its debut, giving us a sneak peek of the “ultra-luxe” EV.
Genesis GV90 EV sheds camo during testing
We got our first look at the flagship Genesis model last March with the Neolun concept, a preview of its first full-size electric SUV.
Inspired by Korea’s iconic moon-shaped porcelain jars, the Neolun Concept is “the epitome of timeless design and sophisticated craftsmanship,” according to the luxury brand’s creative officer, Luc Donckerwolke. Genesis calls it “the ultra-luxe vision of luxury SUVs.”
The GV90 is not just a stunning-looking vehicle. It will also serve as a tech beacon for Genesis with Hyundai Motor’s most advanced software and tech, including a massive 24.6″ infotainment.
This is all great, but the feature that caught the most attention was GV90’s coach doors. Ahead of its debut, we’ve seen the GV90 out in the wild for testing a few times, including with coach doors.
Genesis claims B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles, hinting they will be offered on the production model. However, the feature is expected to only be offered on higher-priced trims.
Most recently, the Genesis GV90 EV was caught by the folks at SH Proshots testing at the Nürburgring with notably less camo. The new images (via TheKoreanCarBlog) give us our best look at the flagship electric SUV, and it already looks like a stunner.
A few design elements, like the two-line LED headlamps, are shown, while you can see a good outline of the vehicle’s profile.
Like the concept, the GV90 appears to retain its minimalistic design shown in the Neolun concept. With an extended wheelbase, you can clearly see the size difference compared to its other EVs, like the GV60 or Electrified GV70.
The full-size electric SUV is expected to be the first Hyundai Motor model to ride on the new eM platform, which is set to replace the current E-GMP underpinning current Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis EVs.
Although production was slated to begin later this year at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea, a recent report from The Korea Economic Daily claims Hyundai’s new development plan now calls for it to begin in June 2026.
Prices and final specs will be revealed closer to launch, but the GV90 is expected to start at around 100 million won ($80,000) in Korea. More premium trims could cost over 200 million won ($160,000).
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, SH Proshots
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