FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Clamping down on import vehicles and parts, 25% tariffs on the way are leading to major concerns for those paying more to fix cars.
Today I spent a few hours with a car repair shop owner and customers weighing what this means in the short and long term.
Under the hood for most of his days, Sam Darwich, the owner of Northwestern Auto Repair in Farmington Hills, gets to see countless vehicles up close. After more than 20 years in the community, he’s become a trusted name for domestic and import repairs.
Darwich says parts on most autos he sees often come from China or Mexico. The end result will have customers like Bob Goode paying a higher cost even on cars they’re already keeping longer to save.
“I can’t afford eggs. Now I can’t afford cars or parts. People are obviously keeping their cars a lot longer because that’s what it is,” Goode said.
The result in some cases, Darwich says, could lead people to putting off repairs or important maintenance like brake jobs when they really shouldn’t to save a buck.
“You hear a squeak or squeal, (you say) OK you know what, I do need brakes, but I'm gonna push it another week or two,” he said.
Related video: 'A punch to the gut': Metro Detroit car dealer and buyer react to new auto tariffs
Auto industry and economics expert Glenn Stevens with MichAuto broke down just how long this could last.
“It takes time to move lines, it takes time to move a part from one piece of equipment to another. There’s capital, there's labor, there's a lot of factors that go into it. It can take up to years when it comes to an assembly plant,” Stevens said.
For now, repair shops across metro Detroit are feeling a shift.
Darwich says workers are doing their best to keep repairs affordable and he’s urging anyone with serious issues on the road not to compromise safety.
“Sam here takes great care of my cars. I got one with 310,000 miles, one with 285 (thousand), and they just keep going. Great vehicles, but Sam maintains them. But everything is getting more expensive,” Goode said.
Dealers told me perhaps, the only way to avoid tariffs is to buy a vehicle already on the lot before tariffs kick in.
