Edmonton car dealership faces uncertainty in car prices amid the ongoing trade war

Hundreds of cars were on display at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Saturday.

But with the uncertainty of the ongoing tariff war with the U.S., one dealership says that while their prices in April might not change, it’s hard to predict what will happen beyond that.

Frank Paonessa, a car dealer since 2003, is used to seeing car prices fluctuate due to shortages in automotive parts—a trend also impacted by the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’ll probably be some adjustment,” said Frank Paonessa, general manager at West Edmonton Volkswagen.

However, with tariffs affecting the auto industry, it is still unclear which parts are being taxed.

“It’s not an easy thing to calculate. In the next little while, it’ll become a little bit more crystal clear what exactly that dollar amount is, and then you’ll start to see some decisions being made—and that will have an effect on what happens with the tariff overall,” said Paonessa.

Despite the uncertainty, the Auto Experience show manager says this hasn’t changed the fact that Edmontonians are still eager to buy their next vehicle.

“There has been a lot of tariff talk across all fronts. Of course, the automotive sector is one of the industries that has been affected,” said Eleasha Naso, show manager at The Auto Experience. “We all know that vehicles are part of people’s lives, and we want to make sure they’re confident in their next purchase.”

With more than 21 brands being showcased at the event—from Japanese, European, and American auto companies—Paonessa says when it comes to cars, preference seems to be top of mind for many Edmontonians.

“I think it’s just preference. If you want an American car, then you’re going to get an American car. If you don’t, then just get whatever you want,” said one local.

Others, however, said they’ve made American brands their least preferred option.

“Right now, with the landscape of things, it wouldn’t be my first choice. There are definitely a lot of better alternatives out there,” said another local.