To be fair, it seems like sales of all western and even European brands have been bad there recently 

I also think also exacerbated by the fact they’re building this massive new plant that’s already going to be underutilized, but they’re also going to convert Louisville on top of that, leaving them heavily exposed in multiple segments if/when the EVs don’t perform well sales wise.

Because it became cheaper to manufacture overseas and import, especially after unions artificially inflated labor rates through legalized extortion.   The first task is to get equal and fair trade removing tariffs and other barriers on U.S. products.  If those were in place Mach-E could have been built here instead of Mexico.   Some foreign auto mfrs have already committed to more U.S. production.  If he gets commitments then you don’t need the tariffs any more provided they follow through with the commitment within a certain timeframe.  From a business standpoint the threat that a big tariff could be imposed at any time in the future should be sufficient to justify more U.S. production.  These tariffs are really just a warning shot to get their attention.  Most will go away once concessions are achieved some of which seem to already be happening with Israel and Europe.

the problem too is that even if they changed plans (again) at this point is that they’re already in a product lull, and that would push it out even further another year or two before they can catch up.   That’s why I keep saying at some point they’ll have to just bite the bullet and pick a direction.  

That’s a good point with the wider stance for added stability in cornering (yes it’s a truck I know), we’ll see I guess!

It will take years to build the factories and supporting industry, coupled with many of these production lines will not come back staffed as they are overseas. It will be significant automation for non high ticket items that can absorb high production.    I think you could encourage manufacturing here by having an escalating tariff system. Similar to how the EV Credit works. Start at 5-10% and each year it increases a nominal percentage.    it wouldn’t be perfect but I think it would work better over the long term to have solid plans and expectations. 

Ford has a Towing guide available for all their trucks. You can find the difference between Gas and diesel engines and different gear ratios. I have a 2022 F350 6.7 diesel, SRW, 8 ft bed. I pull a 5th wheel that ways 12,000 lbs empty. In my opinion, 6.7 diesel is the only way to go.  

I see the core problem differently.  Just ask yourself why so much manufacturing shifted overseas during our lifetime in the first place?     For what it’s worth, if tariffs escalate back and forth as we are doing so far, it might as well be an embargo.  We are looking at China potentially being at 100% in a few days.  Somebody needs to find an off-ramp quickly that allows both sides to claim victory while saving face.

At one point today the estimate was a loss of $11 trillion, which is huge, but doesn’t reflect the big picture IMO.  Fortunately much of it reversed.  One expert suggested we could face an economic nuclear winter if cooler heads do not prevail prior to reaching a tipping point.  If that happens, $11 trillion could be insignificant.  My fear is getting to a point where neither side can back down, then what?   Agree completely that we need greater domestic manufacturing, but will companies be able to build new plants before politics change again?  Everything is so chaotic and there’s no assurance policies won’t change drastically.  Some speculate that he’s moving very fast so congress or the legal system do not have time to get involved.  However, opposition is inevitable and will likely come before new domestic plants are operational.  It will be a risk for manufacturers either way.  Will they build new plants like for BEVs to find the investment underutilized because new policies revert to greater global trade?  The problem with chaos is that it’s unpredictable and therefore impossible to plan for without incurring high or unnecessary costs.  As you know markets like stability and predictability.   Also agree that incentives for longer-term investment in new plants would have been far better.  However, I expect he probably doesn’t think he has the time to take that approach.  Policies could change drastically in less than 2 years, and major investment won’t be operational by then.  Granted, many Democrats want greater domestic manufacturing also.

So we pay higher prices until the tariff is lifted or we get an American manufacturer.   It’s a tariff not an embargo.