Jacksonville International Auto Show opens with tariffs looming

The luxury wheels at the Jacksonville International Auto Show include a Bentley Continental GT convertible valued at over $300,000 and a $107,000 Range Rover.

But as the auto show opens at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, electric vehicles also fill floor space, like the VinFast VF-8 from Vietnam, Hummer EV and retro-styled Volkswagen ID. Buzz electric minivan.

Even with tariffs and apparent declining interest in electric vehicles, consumers and automakers still seem to want to see those vehicles, said Jackie Lynch, president of the Jacksonville Automobile Dealers Association.

“I think (tariffs) is a short term thing with the new administration and what’s going on right now, so it is kind of a wait and see for us,” said Lynch, who is general manager of Nimnicht Buick GMC.

As for EVs, “it seems like there are some negotiations going on and who knows where it’s going to end. But I know this: There are a lot of dealers in Jacksonville who have a lot of inventory on the ground that certainly would not be affected by that.”

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Consumers want both gas and electric, said show producer Evelyn Cardenas.

“There’s interest,” Cardenas said. “When something has become more popular, you don’t have to push it as much, and I think the White House kind of notices that as well. No one is pushing gas vehicles on us, and we are not even thinking of the White House not having an interest in gas vehicles because it is common knowledge. We are all driving them, and I think the market is there.”

Twenty automakers from Alfa Romeo and Audi to Volvo and Volkswagen will be on hand Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the event in the city’s convention center. America’s Big 3 are there — Ford, General Motors (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Hummer) and Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Jeep). So are European and Japanese carmakers from BMW and Mercedes-Benz to Subaru and Toyota.

As it has for almost four decades, the annual event sees lots of people kicking tires and checking out options. No salespeople are allowed, Cardenas said.

“It is a place where nobody is selling you anything,” he said. “You can come and get into any vehicle, sit in there with the family, see how it feels, pop the hood.”

In the weeks leading up to the show, President Donald Trump has proposed 25% tariffs on vehicles and their parts coming in from Canada and Mexico, which could have a serious impact on the cost of making vehicles in the U.S., according to NPR.

More recently, Trump said he plans to announce a 25% tax on all imported steel and aluminum, which also could raise the price for anything made with those metals.

Trump also has said he will pause a federal clean energy program to expand the country’s network of electric vehicle charging stations, as some automakers scale back EV manufacturing.

Despite that, cars that plug in are all over the show.

“We’ve got a lot of EVs, and we have ride and drives set up out front,” Lynch said. “Stellantis is here with five or six of their vehicles, and General Motors is here as well, and their EV selection is what you will see most out there.”

The event is JADA’s only annual fundraiser and supports numerous charities in Northeast Florida, Lynch said.

If you go

• Hours: noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• Location: Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St.
• Tickets: $15 per adult, $10 for military, $9 for seniors, free for children under 6. Parking is free.