Ford Suit Claims Lemon Law Lawyers Bilked Them Out of $100M
For many buyers, the concept of the Lemon Law is a good one: when a consumer purchases a product that repeatedly fails to meet generally expected quality standards, they are provided with a legal remedy to pursue a refund.
And while many automakers find themselves involved in Lemon Law cases, this next instance is a bit unique. For Ford Motor Company, instead of facing off in lawsuits over defective products, it is filing a suit against a group of Lemon Law attorneys alleging widespread fraud.
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Companies who are found in breach of Lemon Law are often on the hook for the legal fees of the customer, which means there are certain law firms that specialize in – and seek out – these specific types of consumer protection cases. In Ford's instance, the automaker claims that a group of nine attorneys have been presenting them with inflated bills for Lemon Law-pursuing customers, to the tune of millions of dollars.
In fact, Ford's claims go even further. A report in Carscoops says Ford has accused the law firms in question of working in tandem, which they say is tantamount to fraud in violation of the RICO Act – a federal law that targets corruption.
Ford's suit outlines a 'magical mystery tour of fictitious billings' including a breakdown of nonsensical hourly charges. For example, Ford says one single attorney in the case billed Ford more than 20 hours in a day on 66 occasions. 34 of these incidents were reportedly bills above 24 hours in a day and one cites a 57-and-a-half-hour workday.
Ford also says one attorney billed them for traveling to two different trials held on the same day. The problem was, they were held 380 miles apart.
Carscoops points to Ford's lawsuit, which suggests that half of all the legal fee applications the automaker received were suspect. The company is not only seeking $300 million in damages, but it's warning other automakers that they might be affected too.
For their part, the attorneys are emphatically denying the accusations. Knight Law Group called Ford's legal action 'nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to silence firms who would dare hold them responsible and seek justice for consumers.'
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Trump and China's Xi Jinping speak at last, agree to more talks
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday, and both countries pledged to restart tariff and trade talks in the coming days. Trump hailed the call as "positive" on Thursday, with both leaders inviting the other to visit their respective countries. Chinese state media said Xi urged Trump to remove 'negative' trade measures on his country. Trump said he would have a team led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer shepherd the talks. The call came after weeks of Trump publicly pushing for the talk, as US-China tensions have risen in the aftermath of the countries' trade truce reached in mid-May in Geneva. Both countries have accused the other of breaching that truce while ratcheting up pressure on other issues. On Wednesday, a US auto parts group urged immediate action on one of those bubbly issues: China's tighter controls on rare earth exports. The group warned the move could soon disrupt car production. China processes over 90% of these minerals, which are used in motors and cameras, among other things. Car giants, such as General Motors (GM), Ford (F), and Toyota (TM), joined the call for help. China's rare earth curbs are seen as part of the wider trade tensions with the US. "There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products," Trump said Thursday. Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Trump's call with Xi came as the US is pushing countries to speed up trade talks. The White House confirmed that the US sent a letter to partners as a "friendly reminder" that Trump's self-imposed 90-day pause on sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs is set to expire in early July. White House advisers have for weeks promised trade deals in the "not-too-distant future," with the only announced agreement so far coming with the United Kingdom. Also this week, effective Wednesday, June 4, Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% Meanwhile, Trump's most sweeping tariffs face legal uncertainty after a federal appeals court allowed the tariffs to temporarily stay in effect, a day after the US Court of International Trade blocked their implementation, deeming the method used to enact them "unlawful." Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. A major US auto parts group warned on Wednesday that China's new export rules on rare earths could soon cause serious problems for car production. These rare earth materials are used in cars and cameras, and China controls over 90% of the world's supply. This follows news that China is using a tracking system to monitor and control who is buying and selling rare earths, Car giants like GM (GM), Ford (F), and Toyota (TM) are already feeling the pressure. Ford has paused production of its Explorer SUV because of rare earth shortages. Foreign car companies are also feeling the heat. Suzuki Motor's suspended production of one of its vehicles due to rare earth restrictions, and German carmaker Mercedes-Benz ( MBGAF) is looking into building rare earth stockpiles with one of its key suppliers. In a statement to Reuters, MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association, said: "The situation remains unresolved and the level of concern remains very high. It added: "Immediate and decisive action is needed to prevent widespread disruption and economic fallout across the vehicle supplier sector." It was also reported on Thursday that Japan is planning to propose strengthening cooperation with the US on rare earth supply chains in upcoming tariff talks with the US, due to recent export restrictions by China. The US and Japan are not the only two nations affected by the rare earths restrictions. Europe has also sounded the alarm, with EU businesses lobbying Beijing to set up a fast-track system for approval of rare earth export licences for "reliable" companies. China's rare earth curbs are seen as part of the wider trade tensions with the US as the two nations seek to reach a trade deal and avoid tariffs. President Trump confirmed his call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Truth Social, saying the call lasted one and half hours and "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries." "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal," President Trump said. Trump added that the call focused on trade, including rare earth minerals, and that the two leaders did not discuss the Russia-Ukraine war or Iran. Notably, Trump outlined that he and Xi agreed on next steps for trade talks, which will take place "shortly." Trump is sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to meet with Chinese officials. Trump also said he and the first lady had been invited to visit China and that he extended the same invitation to President Xi. Read more here. The US trade deficit shrank in April as imports fell sharply, mainly due to President Trump's tariffs and companies who had previously raced to beat high import costs, no longer rushing in goods ahead of new levies. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese state media reported Thursday morning that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call at Trump's request. Anticipation had been building as to when the two leaders would speak, as trade tensions between the US and China reignited after Trump and Chinese officials each stated the other had broken their informal Geneva agreement. Trump had publicly pushed for a phone call, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted would come this week. The call appears to mark the first talk between the two leaders during Trump's second term in office. Indian and US officials are holding high-level talks this week in New Delhi to hammer out a finalized trade deal that could be announced this month, two government sources told Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. The tit-for-tat game between the US and China continues. A Bloomberg report on Thursday said that the Trump administration plans to broaden restrictions on China's tech sector with new regulations to include subsidiaries of companies under US curbs. This follows China's curbs on rare earths which have led to the US, the EU, Japan and global car companies sounding the alarm on supply chain issues. The Geneva tariff talks between the US and China were meant to help prevent trade tensions between the two nations and put a stop to escalating tariffs. However, it seems both sides are unwilling to back down. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US business optimism has fallen sharply, reflecting a trend seen in the first quarter of the year and a reversal from the buoyant mood after President Trump was elected. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The world's largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble (PG), said on Thursday it will cut 7,000 jobs, approximately 6% of its total workforce, over the next two years as part of a new restructuring plan to combat falling consumer demand and higher costs due to tariffs. P&G said it also plans to exit some product categories and brands in certain markets. P&G, which makes popular brands such as Pampers and Tide detergent, said the restructuring plan comes when consumer spending is pressured. Like P&G, other consumer companies are also facing a drop in demand, such as Unilever. President Trump's tariffs on trading partners have deeply impacted global markets and led to recession fears in the US, which is the biggest market for P&G. A Reuters poll revealed that Trump's trade war has cost companies over $34B in lost sales and higher costs. My colleague Brian Sozzi highlights some of P&G's changes within his latest piece, stating that the consumer goods brand knows how to do a "few things very well." P&G was forced to raise prices on some products in April. Pricing and cost cuts were the main levers, CFO Andre Schulten said. On Thursday, Schulten and P&G's operations head Shailesh Jejurikar acknowledged that the geopolitical environment was "unpredictable" and that consumers were facing "greater uncertainty." Read more here. Instead of passing on tariff costs to consumers, tonic maker Fevertree Drinks (FQVTY) announced on Thursday it would equally split costs of the 10% tariff imposed on UK imports to the US with brewer Molson Coors (TAP). The British company, known for its premium cocktail mixers, counts the United States as its largest market, where it continues to deliver strong momentum bolstered by its partnership with the US beer maker Molson Coors. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. British firms are brushing off President Trump's tariffs, according to a survey released on Thursday by the Bank of England. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Apple (AAPL), which has become caught in the crossfire of President Trump's trade war several times this year, now faces delays to the launch of Apple Intelligence in China, the Financial Times reports. It's the latest instance in which the conflict between the US and China has spilled into areas other than tariffs, including aircraft bans, export controls, and student visas. From the Financial Times: Read more here (premium). Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will take "some time" to assemble a response to the doubled steel and aluminum tariffs President Trump imposed on Tuesday and that the US and Canada are currently involved in "intensive" trade talks. "We will take some time — not much, some time — because we are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on our trading relationship," Carney said, as reported by the Canadian Press. Carney also stated that the 50% steel and aluminum tariffs are "unlawful and unjustified," and he predicted they will harm American workers as well as Canada. He noted that Canada is considering its response to Trump's escalation. Already the country has implemented countermeasures on $90 billion worth of US goods. Read more here. In a new letter approximating the budgetary impacts of President Trump's tariffs, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated that tariffs would reduce deficits but reduce the US economy and raise inflation. CBO assessed that the collections from tariffs implemented between Jan. 6 and May 13 would reduce primary deficits by a net $2.8 trillion over the next decade when accounting for reduced outlays of interest payments as well as changes in the size of the economy. The preliminary analysis stated that the effects of retaliatory tariffs, plus reductions in investment and productivity due to tariffs, are expected to weigh on economic growth. The budget office pegged a $300 billion increase in the deficit to these economic changes, partially offsetting the $3 trillion deficit reduction from tariff revenue. CBO also estimated that inflation will increase by 0.4 percentage points on average in 2025 and 2026, thereby "reducing the purchasing power of households and businesses." The estimates reflect the duties imposed as of May 13, including 10% broad-based tariffs, 25% auto tariffs, and 25% steel and aluminum tariffs (the last of which doubled as of June 3). They do not reflect the US-UK trade pact announced on May 8. President Trump's tariffs are leading many American's, especially those with deeper pockets to flock to dollar stores. Chains such as Dollar General and Dollar Tree, whose core customer base was once (and still is) those with less money, are now seeing a rise in wealthier customers visiting their stores, as Trump's tariffs darken US consumer sentiment. The FT reports: Read more here. Activity in the services sector has fallen into contraction for the first time in a year. The Institute for Supply Management's Services PMI registered a reading of 49.9 in May, below the 51.6 seen in April and lower than the increase to 52 economists had expected. Readings above 50 for this index indicate an expansion in activity, while readings below 50 indicate contraction. May's data marked just the fourth time the services sector has fallen into contraction in the past five years. New orders tumbled to a reading of 46.4 in May, below the 52.3 seen the month prior. Meanwhile, the prices paid index increased to 68.7, up from 65.1 in April. This marked the highest prices paid reading since November 2022, when the Consumer Price Index had shown inflation at 7.1%. Steve Miller, the chair of ISM's Services Business Survey, said in the release that "tariff impacts are likely elevating prices paid." "May's PMI level is not indicative of a severe contraction, but rather uncertainty that is being expressed broadly among ISM Services Business Survey panelists," Miller said. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer reports: Read more here. The Bank of Canada noted that it's seeing softness in the Canadian economy due to tariffs as it held interest rates steady on Wednesday. 'With uncertainty about US tariffs still high, the Canadian economy softer but not sharply weaker, and some unexpected firmness in recent inflation data, Governing Council decided to hold the policy rate as we gain more information on US trade policy and its impacts,' the Bank said in a statement. 'We will continue to assess the timing and strength of both the downward pressures on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs.' Governor Tiff Macklem also noted that while it's too soon to see tariff-related inflation broadly in consumer prices, the US-Canada trade conflict is "the biggest headwind facing the Canadian economy." Read live updates about the Bank of Canada's policy meeting here. A major US auto parts group warned on Wednesday that China's new export rules on rare earths could soon cause serious problems for car production. These rare earth materials are used in cars and cameras, and China controls over 90% of the world's supply. This follows news that China is using a tracking system to monitor and control who is buying and selling rare earths, Car giants like GM (GM), Ford (F), and Toyota (TM) are already feeling the pressure. Ford has paused production of its Explorer SUV because of rare earth shortages. Foreign car companies are also feeling the heat. Suzuki Motor's suspended production of one of its vehicles due to rare earth restrictions, and German carmaker Mercedes-Benz ( MBGAF) is looking into building rare earth stockpiles with one of its key suppliers. In a statement to Reuters, MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association, said: "The situation remains unresolved and the level of concern remains very high. It added: "Immediate and decisive action is needed to prevent widespread disruption and economic fallout across the vehicle supplier sector." It was also reported on Thursday that Japan is planning to propose strengthening cooperation with the US on rare earth supply chains in upcoming tariff talks with the US, due to recent export restrictions by China. The US and Japan are not the only two nations affected by the rare earths restrictions. Europe has also sounded the alarm, with EU businesses lobbying Beijing to set up a fast-track system for approval of rare earth export licences for "reliable" companies. China's rare earth curbs are seen as part of the wider trade tensions with the US as the two nations seek to reach a trade deal and avoid tariffs. President Trump confirmed his call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Truth Social, saying the call lasted one and half hours and "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries." "I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal," President Trump said. Trump added that the call focused on trade, including rare earth minerals, and that the two leaders did not discuss the Russia-Ukraine war or Iran. Notably, Trump outlined that he and Xi agreed on next steps for trade talks, which will take place "shortly." Trump is sending Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to meet with Chinese officials. Trump also said he and the first lady had been invited to visit China and that he extended the same invitation to President Xi. Read more here. The US trade deficit shrank in April as imports fell sharply, mainly due to President Trump's tariffs and companies who had previously raced to beat high import costs, no longer rushing in goods ahead of new levies. Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese state media reported Thursday morning that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call at Trump's request. Anticipation had been building as to when the two leaders would speak, as trade tensions between the US and China reignited after Trump and Chinese officials each stated the other had broken their informal Geneva agreement. Trump had publicly pushed for a phone call, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted would come this week. The call appears to mark the first talk between the two leaders during Trump's second term in office. Indian and US officials are holding high-level talks this week in New Delhi to hammer out a finalized trade deal that could be announced this month, two government sources told Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. The tit-for-tat game between the US and China continues. A Bloomberg report on Thursday said that the Trump administration plans to broaden restrictions on China's tech sector with new regulations to include subsidiaries of companies under US curbs. This follows China's curbs on rare earths which have led to the US, the EU, Japan and global car companies sounding the alarm on supply chain issues. The Geneva tariff talks between the US and China were meant to help prevent trade tensions between the two nations and put a stop to escalating tariffs. However, it seems both sides are unwilling to back down. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. US business optimism has fallen sharply, reflecting a trend seen in the first quarter of the year and a reversal from the buoyant mood after President Trump was elected. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The world's largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble (PG), said on Thursday it will cut 7,000 jobs, approximately 6% of its total workforce, over the next two years as part of a new restructuring plan to combat falling consumer demand and higher costs due to tariffs. P&G said it also plans to exit some product categories and brands in certain markets. P&G, which makes popular brands such as Pampers and Tide detergent, said the restructuring plan comes when consumer spending is pressured. Like P&G, other consumer companies are also facing a drop in demand, such as Unilever. President Trump's tariffs on trading partners have deeply impacted global markets and led to recession fears in the US, which is the biggest market for P&G. A Reuters poll revealed that Trump's trade war has cost companies over $34B in lost sales and higher costs. My colleague Brian Sozzi highlights some of P&G's changes within his latest piece, stating that the consumer goods brand knows how to do a "few things very well." P&G was forced to raise prices on some products in April. Pricing and cost cuts were the main levers, CFO Andre Schulten said. On Thursday, Schulten and P&G's operations head Shailesh Jejurikar acknowledged that the geopolitical environment was "unpredictable" and that consumers were facing "greater uncertainty." Read more here. Instead of passing on tariff costs to consumers, tonic maker Fevertree Drinks (FQVTY) announced on Thursday it would equally split costs of the 10% tariff imposed on UK imports to the US with brewer Molson Coors (TAP). The British company, known for its premium cocktail mixers, counts the United States as its largest market, where it continues to deliver strong momentum bolstered by its partnership with the US beer maker Molson Coors. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. British firms are brushing off President Trump's tariffs, according to a survey released on Thursday by the Bank of England. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Apple (AAPL), which has become caught in the crossfire of President Trump's trade war several times this year, now faces delays to the launch of Apple Intelligence in China, the Financial Times reports. It's the latest instance in which the conflict between the US and China has spilled into areas other than tariffs, including aircraft bans, export controls, and student visas. From the Financial Times: Read more here (premium). Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will take "some time" to assemble a response to the doubled steel and aluminum tariffs President Trump imposed on Tuesday and that the US and Canada are currently involved in "intensive" trade talks. "We will take some time — not much, some time — because we are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on our trading relationship," Carney said, as reported by the Canadian Press. Carney also stated that the 50% steel and aluminum tariffs are "unlawful and unjustified," and he predicted they will harm American workers as well as Canada. He noted that Canada is considering its response to Trump's escalation. Already the country has implemented countermeasures on $90 billion worth of US goods. Read more here. In a new letter approximating the budgetary impacts of President Trump's tariffs, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated that tariffs would reduce deficits but reduce the US economy and raise inflation. CBO assessed that the collections from tariffs implemented between Jan. 6 and May 13 would reduce primary deficits by a net $2.8 trillion over the next decade when accounting for reduced outlays of interest payments as well as changes in the size of the economy. The preliminary analysis stated that the effects of retaliatory tariffs, plus reductions in investment and productivity due to tariffs, are expected to weigh on economic growth. The budget office pegged a $300 billion increase in the deficit to these economic changes, partially offsetting the $3 trillion deficit reduction from tariff revenue. CBO also estimated that inflation will increase by 0.4 percentage points on average in 2025 and 2026, thereby "reducing the purchasing power of households and businesses." The estimates reflect the duties imposed as of May 13, including 10% broad-based tariffs, 25% auto tariffs, and 25% steel and aluminum tariffs (the last of which doubled as of June 3). They do not reflect the US-UK trade pact announced on May 8. President Trump's tariffs are leading many American's, especially those with deeper pockets to flock to dollar stores. Chains such as Dollar General and Dollar Tree, whose core customer base was once (and still is) those with less money, are now seeing a rise in wealthier customers visiting their stores, as Trump's tariffs darken US consumer sentiment. The FT reports: Read more here. Activity in the services sector has fallen into contraction for the first time in a year. The Institute for Supply Management's Services PMI registered a reading of 49.9 in May, below the 51.6 seen in April and lower than the increase to 52 economists had expected. Readings above 50 for this index indicate an expansion in activity, while readings below 50 indicate contraction. May's data marked just the fourth time the services sector has fallen into contraction in the past five years. New orders tumbled to a reading of 46.4 in May, below the 52.3 seen the month prior. Meanwhile, the prices paid index increased to 68.7, up from 65.1 in April. This marked the highest prices paid reading since November 2022, when the Consumer Price Index had shown inflation at 7.1%. Steve Miller, the chair of ISM's Services Business Survey, said in the release that "tariff impacts are likely elevating prices paid." "May's PMI level is not indicative of a severe contraction, but rather uncertainty that is being expressed broadly among ISM Services Business Survey panelists," Miller said. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer reports: Read more here. The Bank of Canada noted that it's seeing softness in the Canadian economy due to tariffs as it held interest rates steady on Wednesday. 'With uncertainty about US tariffs still high, the Canadian economy softer but not sharply weaker, and some unexpected firmness in recent inflation data, Governing Council decided to hold the policy rate as we gain more information on US trade policy and its impacts,' the Bank said in a statement. 'We will continue to assess the timing and strength of both the downward pressures on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs.' Governor Tiff Macklem also noted that while it's too soon to see tariff-related inflation broadly in consumer prices, the US-Canada trade conflict is "the biggest headwind facing the Canadian economy." Read live updates about the Bank of Canada's policy meeting here.
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Entrepreneur
How to Turn Tariff Turmoil Into Boosted Sales — and Build Trust in the Process
When unexpected policy changes like tariffs hit, smart marketers don't panic — they pivot. Here's how we turned headlines into high-converting, urgency-driven campaigns that boosted sales and built trust. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. As chief marketing officer of the Tim Moran Auto Group, which runs Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai dealerships, I've discovered the hard way that the best marketing campaigns don't always originate in the boardroom, but in the news cycle. Recently, news of fresh 25% tariffs against imported vehicles and automotive parts lit up the headlines and sent shock and confusion throughout the business community. Decisions like these can ripple through global supply chains, dealer inventories and customer bank accounts. But for companies that move quickly, changes in policy can also turn into moments of connection, urgency and growth. In our situation, consumer behavior was directly affected by the announcement. The day after the news became public, we saw traffic to our dealerships surge. Phones rang nonstop. Customers were suddenly jolted into an action that they had deferred for weeks." The message was obvious: urgency had washed into the market, and we had to act. Related: How Trump's Tariffs Are Reshaping Startups and Venture Capital What tariffs on cars would mean for the auto industry Tariffs, in essence, increase the cost of importing vehicles and parts. Domestic production has cushioned some of the blow, though a lot of vehicles continue to depend on parts or manufacturing procedures that come from abroad. For dealers, that could mean higher wholesale prices, tightened inventory and some models cutting into consumers' budgets, making cars less affordable. But here's the catch: Those increases won't occur overnight. There's a window — some days, some weeks — where it's unaffected, whatever the current inventory happens to be. And there is a huge marketing opportunity in that window. We saw it firsthand. Staring down tariffs, we initiated campaigns encouraging customers to "lock in current pricing before prices went up." Our messaging was all about transparency and value: "These vehicles, they're on the lot now at today's prices. They will probably cost more in the months ahead. Act now." We were not fearmongering — we were providing our customers with a heads-up and helping them to make informed decisions. Three brands, one clear message While each brand we represent — Ford, Chevrolet and Hyundai — brings its own strategy to the table, they're all preparing for the same reality: potential price increases driven by incoming tariffs that could impact parts, manufacturing and ultimately, sticker prices. That's why our group's message is simple and urgent: Get in now, while current on-lot inventory is still protected from these changes. Once that inventory is gone, replacements could cost thousands more — and no one can say for certain how steep those increases might be. Ford has leaned in with one of the strongest consumer incentives we've seen in years: employee pricing for everyone through July. That alone creates a major opportunity for savings before any tariff-related effects are felt. We've emphasized that this is a rare moment — with deep discounts available now, and a finite window before future inventory may carry higher costs due to global sourcing. Chevrolet and Hyundai, meanwhile, are both offering aggressive financing programs across popular models. These offers give customers a way to lock in low rates on current inventory before any upstream cost increases work their way into pricing. Our messaging has focused on clarity: All three brands will likely feel some level of tariff impact, especially when it comes to parts and production costs. So the time to act — to save and secure the best value — is before those effects ripple through the supply chain. Related: Historic Perspectives on Tariff Policies and Modern Impacts Marketing in uncertain times When you're in the middle of a fast-moving story like this one, clarity and nimbleness are essential. We leveraged various platforms — email, paid search, social media and even radio — to communicate a consistent message: Tick-tock, time's a-wasting. Customers seemed to appreciate the forthrightness. We weren't pushing products to meet targets; we gave them the opportunity to front-run the system before prices moved. We've had success with strategies such as: Time-locked events : "Tariff Countdown Sales" and "Beat the Price Hike" weekends built urgency and provided a clear rallying point for our teams. : "Tariff Countdown Sales" and "Beat the Price Hike" weekends built urgency and provided a clear rallying point for our teams. Incentive layering : Adding the tariff message to existing rebates or financing programs made the deals seem even more attractive. : Adding the tariff message to existing rebates or financing programs made the deals seem even more attractive. Concise deadlines: Whether it was a deadline for a tariff or the close of a promotion, we were always crystal clear when customers would no longer be able to take advantage and why they must act now. And, perhaps most important, we taught our sales teams to have conversations, not just close sales. We armed them with talking points about how tariffs might affect pricing down the line and how current offers could help customers get ahead of those price increases. This helped build trust and establish our team as trusted advisors, not mere salespeople. Related: 5 Startup Marketing Moves That Work Even in Uncertain Times Sage advice for entrepreneurs of every variety The auto industry may feel the impact of tariffs most acutely, but the larger strategy we used can work for any business. Here's some advice for entrepreneurs who want to capitalize on external events as marketing fodder: Stay plugged into the news . Having ripplecalling here means that, say, if there are legislative changes, economic changes or changes around the world, that affect your industry, you can end up seeing ripple effects through it. The quicker you can spot those changes, the quicker you can craft the judicious value-based message. . Having ripplecalling here means that, say, if there are legislative changes, economic changes or changes around the world, that affect your industry, you can end up seeing ripple effects through it. The quicker you can spot those changes, the quicker you can craft the judicious value-based message. Create urgency with truth . Here are the only two things that motivate people: scarcity and deadlines — but only when they're real. Don't invent panic. Rather, describe to your customers how an event (such as a tariff or new regulation) will impact your prices, availability or service offerings — and be upfront while you do so. . Here are the only two things that motivate people: scarcity and deadlines — but only when they're real. Don't invent panic. Rather, describe to your customers how an event (such as a tariff or new regulation) will impact your prices, availability or service offerings — and be upfront while you do so. Frame the case in terms of what's good for the customer . Instead of "We need to move inventory," it's "You can save money by buying before X happens." Articulate the benefit and put your customer first. . Instead of "We need to move inventory," it's "You can save money by buying before X happens." Articulate the benefit and put your customer first. Spend time building campaigns and testing everything . Some of our messaging was about "tariff alerts," while other sessions delved into more traditional, seasonal language. Through A/B testing, we learned what angle is most relatable to various segments, and we adapted accordingly. . Some of our messaging was about "tariff alerts," while other sessions delved into more traditional, seasonal language. Through A/B testing, we learned what angle is most relatable to various segments, and we adapted accordingly. Lead with value, not fear. But it doesn't have to all be bad. Emphasize what your customers get by acting now, not just what they lose by waiting. In a constantly changing news world, agility is one of the most powerful weapons in a marketer's arsenal. The tariffs are only one example, but the principles we used work whether you are selling cars, real estate, software or services. When the winds of change from the outside are blowing into your industry, do not turn back. Step up, speak clearly and turn that moment into momentum. We don't control the news. But we do have control over how we react to it — and that's where true opportunity resides.
Motor Trend
an hour ago
- Motor Trend
2025 Ford Maverick Lobo First Test: A Howlin' Good Time?
Pros Rides well, looks cool Same hugely practical Maverick interior Improved infotainment system Cons We'd love a meaner exhaust Fun but not mind-blowing Desperately needs grippier tires We love everything about the Ford Maverick. Well, maybe not how prices have shot up. And we definitely don't like the many, many recalls we received for our long-term hybrid model. And the useless cubby next to the infotainment screen was pretty stupid. But, hey, at least the last one was fixed as part of the small pickup truck's 2025 refresh, which also brought a whole new trim level, the sporty, mini-trucktastic Lobo. And we gotta say, the Ford Maverick Lobo is the best small sporty pickup truck you can buy. It's also the only small sporty pickup truck you can buy, but at least it's good. What Is the Maverick Lobo? A recap of the Lobo's bona fides: It's lower by a half inch up front and 1.2 inches in the back. It features its own unique front and rear styling. It plucks go-faster parts from Ford's global empire, including front brakes and a steering rack from European Fords and a torque-vectoring rear differential from the Maverick Tremor. The transmission gets shift paddles and one fewer forward ratio for quicker acceleration. Is This Wolf a Blitzer? And it is indeed quicker. We measured the AWD Lobo hitting 60 mph in 6.1 seconds (about the same as a manual-transmission 2024 VW GTI) on the strength of its 250-hp, 277-lb-ft 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder. (No hybrid-powered or front-drive Lobos will be offered.) The carryover engine is one we previously tested in a regular AWD Maverick to 60 in 7.0 seconds. The Lobo is just 15 pounds lighter than that truck, for what it's worth. Start the Lobo, and a slight growl immediately marks it as different from more mainstream Mavs. As the acceleration number indicates, this isn't a thrill ride; launching couldn't be simpler, though. In Lobo mode, use a bit of brake torque and time your release off the brake right, and the truck hops right off the line with no tire squealing. If you hadn't looked at the engine specs, this is your first clue the Lobo doesn't have piles of torque. The next is when you try to rotate it out of a corner—or heaven forbid, drift—using the power. It will do so, but not without careful precision from the driver. Generally, it just holds its line or washes out to understeer. This might be different if the Lobo could send more than 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. But its torque-vectoring differential mostly does its job in making the Lobo a more vivacious handler than regular Mavericks, which are more reluctant to turn, relatively speaking. Don't bother with the shift paddles, though; the transmission is tuned well enough that using them is pretty superfluous in any sort of aggressive driving scenario. And the exhaust growl doesn't really get any meatier—as testing director Eric Tingwall said, we'd 'happily tolerate something more raucous.' We'd also welcome better tires; the standard all-season mud-and-snows don't do its braking any favors, as the Lobo knocked out a best 60–0 stop of 127 feet, which isn't any great shakes. And not that anyone is getting a Lobo to do work, but note that payload decreases to just over 1,000 pounds and towing is limited to 2,000 pounds. Inside, the Lobo gets special stitching and logos on the seats, and it has the new 13.2-inch infotainment screen common to all 2025 Mavericks. It offers improved graphics and faster responses than the 8.0-inch unit from before, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are huge additions. The instrument cluster is fully digital now, too. But the layout and functionality are otherwise the same as before, which remains excellent in execution. The Lobo comes in two specs, one low and one high. The low spec is in large part intended for folks who might want to use their truck as a jumping-off point for tuning and customization; it starts at $37,625. The upper-spec model crests $43K—making it the most expensive Maverick you can get now—but it does come equipped with a massive pile of comfort and convenience features. These include onboard power in the cab and bed, an acoustic windshield, heated seats and steering wheel, a power sunroof and sliding rear window, wireless device charging, Pro Trailer Backup and Hitch Assist to make towing a snap, Ford Co-Pilot360 driver assists, and more. Our truck had one option: black-painted wheels, which cost $100. We'd pocket that Benjamin, though, and stick with the super-rad turbofans. That is quite a bit for a Maverick, especially considering the truck started at roughly $20,000 when it launched for the 2022 model year. But increasing costs, tariffs and more have pushed prices ever higher in all segments to the point that the average transaction price across the industry for a new vehicle is nearly $49,000. That said, if you want a sporty small pickup truck, to us at least, the Maverick Lobo is worth whatever it costs since it's in a class of one. We'd budget a little extra money for stickier tires, a more wicked exhaust, and maybe an engine tune, but even out of the box, the Lobo is largely satisfying and definitely cool.
