Rattled auto industry braces for 'extremely painful' fallout from Trump's tariffs

The automotive industry is facing its biggest challenge since the economic downturn a decade ago threatened to bankrupt the top three U.S. carmakers.

President Trump is upending the sector with new tariffs on vehicle supplies from steel and aluminum imports to Chinese technological components. He has threatened to impose duties on all products shipped from the communist nation to the U.S., and the White House is weighing a separate 25 percent tax on cars and car parts.