Jaguar Land Rover restarts US shipments after pause, as UK fears being sidelined in American trade priorities under Trump’s protectionist stance

Jaguar Land Rover has resumed shipments of vehicles to the United States, ending a self-imposed suspension that began on April 7. The Coventry-based manufacturer, owned by India’s Tata Motors, paused transatlantic exports as the White House pushed ahead with its threat of 25% tariffs on foreign-built cars. The first outbound shipments in nearly a month left Britain on Wednesday, bound for JLR’s largest overseas market.

The decision to restart shipments may signal a reluctant acceptance that American customers will be forced to bear the brunt of these tariffs. The price of the company’s lowest-cost Range Rover Evoque could rise by nearly $12,500 (£9,500), while the entry-level Range Rover could see a $27,000 increase, should the full effect of duties be passed onto consumers. Vehicles typically take around three weeks to reach the US, suggesting arrivals will begin by May 20. Unless a trade deal intervenes, they will be subject to the 25% tariff.

”The US is an important market for JLR’s luxury brands and 25 per cent tariffs on autos remain in place”

- JLR

JLR’s vehicle production stays focused on North American market

JLR offered no explanation for its change in approach. A spokesman said, “The US is an important market for JLR’s luxury brands and 25 per cent tariffs on autos remain in place. As we work to address the new US trading terms with our business partners, we are enacting our planned short-term actions, as we develop our mid to long-term plans. We will give a further update in our full-year results in May.”

The company’s reticence has done little to allay concerns across the UK automotive sector, which remains exposed to the volatility of Washington’s trade policy. Reports this week suggested the UK is no longer a top priority in securing a trade agreement with the United States, with South Korea and other Asian countries now taking precedence.

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Yet the picture remains in flux. President Trump surprised many by easing his stance last week, announcing a suspension of tariffs on imported car parts and granting a reprieve on levies for aluminium and steel — critical components for automotive manufacturing. Whether this signals a broader shift in trade policy or a temporary pause remains unclear.

Jaguar Land Rover exported roughly 100,000 vehicles to the US last year, a quarter of its global sales volume. The company generated £6.5 billion in revenue from the United States in the 2023–24 financial year, more than from any other region. China followed with £5.4 billion, while revenues from the UK and the rest of Europe stood at £5 billion and £5.3 billion respectively. The brand’s American bestsellers include the Land Rover Defender and the Range Rover Sport, with celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Bruce Springsteen among its high-profile clientele.

How successful will localisation under duress be for automotive producers?

Despite persistent speculation over a possible US factory, JLR has continued to manufacture its vehicles in Europe for export to North America. While the long-term economic logic of establishing local production has become more persuasive under tariff threats, no formal move has yet been made.

Other British marques are also feeling the heat. Aston Martin recently said it had reduced US-bound shipments in response to the same protectionist measures. Rolls-Royce and McLaren, meanwhile, are somewhat insulated by their position at the upper end of the market. Their affluent buyers are less susceptible to price fluctuations, even under punitive import duties.

“In terms of price elasticity, it’s different with a Rolls-Royce client [compared to] a different car. But our clients are very astute business people as well,” Rolls-Royce Motor Cars chief executive Chris Brownridge noted in January.

Nonetheless, the return of JLR shipments is a reminder of how deeply embedded British automotive exports remain in global politics. The company employs 38,000 people in the UK, and its future sales growth hinges on its ability to navigate an increasingly fragmented trade landscape. While its short-term response is underway, the mid and long-term strategies will need to contend with a reordering of international trade relations and the uncertain whims of American policy.