Why GM stock is getting hit the hardest by Trump auto tariffs

Core Viewpoint - General Motors (GM) is facing significant challenges due to new tariffs imposed by the U.S. government, particularly affecting its operations and stock performance compared to competitors like Ford and Stellantis [2][3][7] Group 1: Tariff Impact - President Trump announced a 25% tariff on all cars not made in the U.S., which significantly impacts GM due to its high exposure to imports from Mexico [3][4] - GM's stock fell over 6%, underperforming compared to Ford and Stellantis, which saw declines of about 3% and 2% respectively [2][4] Group 2: Import Exposure - Mexico accounted for 16.2% of vehicle imports into the U.S. in 2024, the largest share of any country, which poses a risk for GM as it relies heavily on Mexican production [4][5] - Approximately 52% of GM vehicles sold in the U.S. were assembled domestically, while 30% were assembled in Canada and Mexico, and 18% were imported from other countries [5][6] Group 3: Competitive Position - Analysts suggest that Tesla and Ford are better shielded from the tariff impacts due to their assembly locations, while GM has the highest exposure to Mexico [4][6] - GM's reliance on Mexico and South Korea for production of small crossovers like Equinox and Blazer raises concerns about its vulnerability to tariffs [5][6] Group 4: Market Performance - GM's stock has decreased by 12% year-to-date, with a notable drop in late January due to investor concerns regarding tariff impacts not being addressed in earnings reports [7]