Fact Check: Did Ford shut down US production and moved manufacturing overseas due to Trump's tariffs?
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on cars and automobile parts in March 2025, and said that he wanted to expand domestic car manufacturing, according to the BBC.
However, in April, he eased the impact of new tariffs on the car-making industry, as it had sparked warnings about higher prices and the potential for significant hits to sales and production.
A post on social media has claimed that Ford Motor Company shut down US production in May due to Trump's tariffs and relocated manufacturing operations overseas. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Ford shut down US production and moved manufacturing overseas due to Donald Trump's tariffs
In May 2025, a rumor circulated online claiming that Ford Motor shut down US production because of President Donald Trump's tariffs and also relocated manufacturing operations overseas.
A manager of the Auto Central YouTube channel @AutoCentralYT posted a video titled 'Ford SHUTS DOWN Production In US And Trump's Reaction Says It All!' on May 7.
The viral clip has so far garnered more than 700,000 views, and more than 8,000 people liked the video.
The video's description read, "Ford CEO Jim Farley has just made a shocking announcement that has shook up the whole American auto sector."
"In reaction to newly elected US President Donald Trump's tough new tariffs on international trade partners, Ford has announced that it will shut down critical elements of its U.S. vehicle production and relocate operations overseas," the description added.
It further read, "These wide tariffs make it too expensive for foreign countries to continue purchasing American-made automobiles, trucks, and electric vehicles. As a result, Ford is being compelled to relocate manufacturing overseas, a significant step that might affect thousands of American workers and the future of American auto industry."
Another YouTube channel called @AutoEdgeYoutube posted a similar video with the same title on May 18.
Moreover, people on social networking platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and X shared the videos.
BREAKING! Ford SHUTS DOWN Production In US And Trumps Reaction Says It ... https://t.co/MtYkfxRDBx via @YouTube trumpy dumby
— Hijack (@JackJackhooser) May 19, 2025
Fact Check: False, the video was generated using AI tools
The claims made in the viral videos are false, as the YouTube clips were made with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, according to Snopes.
Moreover, searches on search engines, such as Google and Bing, showed no news media outlets reporting about the automaker halting domestic production or moving its operations abroad, per the fact-checking outlet.
Meanwhile, searches online displayed results for popular, advertisement-filled YouTube videos promoting the fabricated claim, including artificial intelligence-generated scripting, voice narration, and editing.
Furthermore, a scan of the full-text description of the YouTube videos with the AI-detection websites Copyleaks, Phrasly, and ZeroGPT showed that it was likely generated with the help of AI.
The rumor circulated days after Ford announced its first-quarter earnings on May 5, including reporting the expectation of a $1.5 billion tariff impact and withdrawing its 2025 financial guidance due to uncertainty about the future.
General Motors urges lawmakers to block California EV mandate
General Motors is urging lawmakers to block California’s strict zero-emission vehicle mandate, and signaling a reversal in the automaker’s stance as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) begins to slow in the US, per the Wall Street Journal.
In an email to thousands of salaried workers, GM wrote, "We need your help! Emissions standards that are not aligned with market realities pose a serious threat to our business by undermining consumer choice and vehicle affordability."
Interestingly, GM was once a supporter of California’s plan to phase out gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035, but it is now lobbying against it.
The automaker is encouraging its employees to contact Senators to revoke California's waiver, which permits the state to enforce stricter emissions rules, per the outlet.
Notably, California aims for 35 percent of all new vehicle sales to be electric or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) by 2026.
However, EVs accounted for 20.8 percent of sales and PHEVs 3.7 percent, totaling 24.5 percent in the first quarter, which is around 10 percentage points below the target, and slightly down from the earlier quarter.
