Canadian auto buyers urged to buy soon to avoid price hikes induced by tariffs: sales reps

Trucks on display at The Auto Experience vehicle products and services show at the Edmonton Expo Centre on April 10, 2025. (Evan Klippenstein/CTV News Edmonton)

With Canada responding in kind to tariffs placed on its automobiles by the United States, representatives at an Edmonton vehicle show say it’s best if people considering car purchases make them as soon as they can to save money.

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U.S. President Donald Trump had placed a 25 per cent tariff on all vehicles made outside the U.S. starting April 2 on top of tariffs already put on them.

In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s reciprocal 25 per cent levies that were applied to U.S.-made vehicles on Wednesday.

West Edmonton Volkswagen’s Frank Paonessa, co-chair of The Auto Experience, said while his dealership hasn’t seen a rush on purchases, there’s “certainly been a pickup over last year.”

“People do understand that if they were planning on buying a car, the sooner they make that decision, the better off they’re probably going to be,” Paonessa told media at the four-day vehicle product and services show that started Thursday at the Edmonton Expo Centre.

He said vehicle buyers can likely expect both new and used automobiles to rise in price as the trade war instigated by Trump shortly after he became president in January continues to escalate.

While automobiles from outside the U.S. won’t be directly impacted by those tariffs, prices across the board could increase amid heightened demand.

As it happens, several representatives from auto brands are in attendance at The Auto Experience, something the show’s manager says could be convenient for prospective buyers.

“If you want to know what certain model of how that applies, everyone here working the displays will be able to answer those questions for you,” Eleasha Naso told media. “They’re all versed on their product lines, where those products are made (and) where they’re coming from.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson