VWAGY

President Trump announced via Truth Social that tariffs on European cars and trucks entering the US will increase to 25% next week, citing insufficient progress on a trade deal. US stocks dipped modestly on the news but remained in positive territory, while the US dollar moved slightly higher. The announcement comes in the context of a Supreme Court ruling that prior tariffs were unconstitutional, with an estimated $160 billion repayment liability.

Rivian's stock is down ~90% from its all-time high amid competitive pressure and flat delivery growth. The company is targeting a recovery via its lower-priced R2 SUV (launching in 2026 at ~$60,000, targeting sub-$50,000 by 2027), alongside software, chip, and autonomous vehicle initiatives. Rivian holds $6 billion in cash, backed by a Volkswagen funding commitment and a $6 billion DOE loan, but remains unprofitable with negative free cash flow of $2.5 billion.