British luxury carmakers have dramatically increased exports to the United States in recent months, industry data shows, as manufacturers sought to get ahead of the 25 per cent import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump this week. Exports of UK-made cars to the US rose by 34.6 per cent in February compared with the same month last year, following increases of 12.4 per cent in January and 38.5 per cent in December, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The surge suggests that high-end brands such as Rolls‑Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover have been stockpiling vehicles in America to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, experts said. The US is the largest single market for Britain's luxury car sector, which exported cars worth £8.3bn to America last year – the biggest component of the UK's £58bn goods exports to the country. Rolls-Royce, owned by BMW, sold 5,712 cars globally in 2024, with the US its top market.
David Bailey, professor of business economics at Birmingham Business School, said: “That’s exactly what has happened. Firms have rushed to export cars to the US ahead of expected tariffs.” Chris Clowes, executive director at supply chain consultancy Scala, added: “While part of this could reflect a short-term spike in demand, it’s likely that stockpiling has played a significant role.”
The 25 per cent levy, announced by the Trump administration, threatens to significantly reduce UK car sales in America. The Institute for Public Policy Research warned that the tariff could lead to up to 25,000 job losses in the British motor sector. The SMMT has cautioned that carmakers may need to “review output” and called for government support, including potential incentives for UK car buyers.
UK manufacturers did not comment on whether they had increased stocks in America. Rolls-Royce said it considered free trade a guiding principle: “We should be discussing reducing trade barriers rather than creating more.” American dealers have reported a sharp rise in sales in March, suggesting US customers are also rushing to buy before tariff-driven price increases take effect.
