NEW YORK: Hyundai Motor Co.'s top executive expects car prices to remain relatively steady over the coming months despite added costs from the escalating global trade war, as automakers try to maintain stability and keep customers coming to dealer lots.
"I don't expect to see a huge increase overnight," chief executive officer José Muñoz said Tuesday in an interview at Bloomberg's New York office. "The market will decide."
The comments offered a counter to the widespread concern among car buyers and industry observers about a possible surge in auto prices later this year from US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
A report this month by research firm Anderson Economic Group estimated that the levies could add US$2,500 (RM11,000) in new costs per vehicle at the lower end of the market to as much as US$20,000 (RM88,000) for luxury imports.
The impact of the tariff costs could fall disproportionately on high-end models, Muñoz said, because those customers are less affected by price hikes.
Munoz.
That could mean automakers will sacrifice some near-term profitability on lower-cost models to support that part of the market.
"I don't think you're going to see prices at the entry level go up US$3,000, US$4,000," he said.
"Those customers are very sensitive to price. If you do that then maybe they won't buy the cars."
Hyundai this month pledged to hold prices steady until June 2, a step that Muñoz said has led to "very strong" sales in April as customers try to get ahead of any market dislocation.
The CEO on Tuesday didn't say what would happen after the marketing program ends, but he said Hyundai had no plans to pull vehicle models or substantially raise prices.
"If we have the opportunity to take maybe some reduced incentives, increase price here or there, we will do," he said in a separate interview on Bloomberg Television.
Muñoz acknowledged that there is more "stress" on parts manufacturers because of the tariffs.
While the company is talking with suppliers about how to share costs to ease the burden, Muñoz said there's likely to be consolidation in the industry with weaker manufacturers succumbing.
Hyundai last month revealed plans to make a record US$21 billion (RM93bil) investment in the US, a move that was hailed by Trump at the White House. The commitment was part of a long-term plan to localise its manufacturing in the US.
"We are not trying to move around things because of incentives or because of tariffs," Muñoz said. "For us, the US is the most important market."
