Make American cars desirable again
On July 22, 2025, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced the results of a series of trade negotiations with United States President Donald Trump. Under the trade deal, President Marcos confirmed that the Philippines would be removing tariffs on American automobile imports, saying that it would “open the market.” This could allow the Philippine car market to open itself to numerous new America-built car models and potentially reduce prices for existing models. Although it is unlikely that prices for these vehicles will be identical to that of the United States, one should hope that they will be, at the very least, comparable. Here’s our wish list of ten USA-built cars that would benefit greatly from zero tariffs:
Cadillac Escalade
The phrase “American luxury SUV” is associated with a host of vehicles, but none are quite as ostentatious, massive, or well-represented in pop culture as the Cadillac Escalade. As the go-to VIP car in the States, the hulking 3-row SUV measures at 5.382 meters long for the standard variant, whereas the long wheelbase variant comes out to 5.765 meters long. For comparison’s sake, that makes the standard variant nearly 60cm longer than the Toyota Fortuner (58.67cm, to be precise). The Escalade comes jam-packed with power and technology, sporting a brawny American 6.2-liter V8 producing 424ps. It is also equipped with Cadillac’s Supercruise driver assistance technology and a 55 inch (!) diagonal display spanning the front row of the car. With prices starting at $88,100 (PHP 4,995,754) in the States, the Escalade could serve as an interesting alternative to the typical cars used by VIPs in the Philippines if it does end up benefiting from the zero tariff trade deal.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C8)
The Stingray is Chevrolet’s iconic mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car. Equipped with a 6.2 liter V8 engine that pumps out 495ps, the Stingray does 0-96 kph in about 2.9 seconds, a very impressive figure. The performance level of the Stingray punches above its price range by a considerable amount, allowing for comparisons with much more expensive exotic supercars like the McLaren 720s. Although the Corvette Stingray is currently sold in the Philippines, prices start at a whopping PHP 12,571,888 for the top of the line 3LT variant, over double the car’s price in the States ($81,745 converting to PHP 4,634,897.) We hope that the zero-tariff deal will reduce the Stingray’s massive price tag and make it more accessible, particularly as the base model 1LT variant in the USA starts at $68,300, which comes out to approximately 3,872,573 PHP—a bargain by sports car—and more so by supercar—standards.
Lincoln Aviator
The Lincoln Aviator is the premier midsize 7-seat SUV of Ford’s luxury subsidiary company Lincoln. The Aviator is an unquestionably handsome vehicle with elegant flowing body lines, a well-proportioned shape, and a very high-end luxury interior. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0 litre V6 engine that produces 404ps. The Aviator reportedly delivers an extremely smooth ride thanks to Lincoln’s suspension preview technology, which scans the road ahead for disturbances (i.e. potholes) and prepares the suspension to handle the impact and minimize passenger discomfort before it actually occurs. Audiophiles will be delighted to note that 25 of the car’s sound effects such as the door chimes were composed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, adding to the vehicle’s high-end feel. Starting at $59,295 (P3,356,690) for the base variant and going up to $87,395 (P4,947,518) for the top of the line black label variant, the Aviator would serve as a very strong luxury contender in the Philippine market.
Chevrolet Equinox
The 4th gen Chevy Equinox is a competent compact SUV intended to compete with the likes of the Mazda CX-50 and the Hyundai Tucson. Having recently received a total redesign, the Equinox now sports a rugged new exterior design that is complemented by fully digital displays on the interior, an 11.3-inch infotainment display, and optional faux leather seats for a more premium feel. The Equinox uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 177ps, and is rated at 9.20km/liters city and 9.91 km/liters highway. For $29,995 (P1,713,553), the Equinox is able to hold its own reasonably well and would definitely be at the top of some buyer’s lists.
Chrysler Pacifica
America loves its family cars, and few are as packed with kid-friendly features as the most awarded minivan of all time — the Chrysler Pacifica. Pitted against competitors like the Kia Carnival and the Honda Odyssey, the Pacifica has a nifty advantage in Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go system, which allows the second and third-row seats to fold flat quickly and easily into the floor to maximize its practicality. It also comes with a plug-in hybrid variant that gives it a considerable leg-up in power over said competitors, outputting 262ps and delivering a very impressive 805km of range. It also comes standard with dual power-sliding rear doors and a power liftgate, making it a very appealing buy at its price of $51,055 (P2,892,621) for the plug-in hybrid variant.
Rivian R1S
American EV manufacturer Rivian carves out a very solid niche for itself in the notoriously competitive SUV market through the rugged look and significant off-road capabilities present in each of their models. Perhaps the most immediate example of this is the Rivian R1S, the company’s flagship 7-seat all-electric luxury SUV. Despite being marketed as an adventure-centric family SUV at heart, the R1S possesses the blistering speed associated with most electric vehicles, and is capable of doing 0-96kph in under 2.6 seconds. It also lets its passengers traverse in considerable luxury, as the R1S comes standard with heated and ventilated perforated vegan leather seats, Chilewich woven floormats, and a premium sound system by Meridian Audio that includes a removable Bluetooth speaker. Its off-road credibility is also helped by up to 38cm (15 inches) of ground clearance and standard air suspension. Starting at $78,450 (PHP 4,448,229), the R1S would definitely prove to be an interesting and highly competent addition to the Philippine market should the zero-tariff deal convince Rivian to set up shop.
Lucid Air
Many respectable brands offer high-performance electric luxury sedans. However, Lucid’s Air Sapphire is faster than every single one of them, thanks to its whopping 1234 horsepower. The extensive list of cars the Air Sapphire outdoes in straight-line performance includes Tesla’s Model S Plaid, which was the fastest production car in the world when it was released. In fact, in the time it took you to read this sentence, the Air Sapphire would have hit 100kph. Although the Sapphire variant comes with a massive price tag to match its massive performance numbers ($249,000, translating to P14,118,424), there is a much more reasonable Air Pure variant that starts at $70,900 (P4,019,388). The Air Pure sports a range of 626km, a very respectable 0-96 kph time of 4.5 seconds, and a luxurious interior that comes standard with a 21-speaker Dolby Atmos surround sound system, a Mojave PurLuxe interior, and optional massaging 20-way power front ventilated seats.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The iconic Mustang nameplate finds its way onto the Mach-E, Ford’s fully electric compact crossover. Serving as a competitor to the likes of the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E makes a compelling argument through its spacious interior, practicality (29 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats up), and considerable performance on its higher end variants which actually manage to outdo the V-8 powered gasoline Mustang. On the Mach-E’s GT and GT Performance models, its motors combine to make 480 horsepower and up to 634 pound-feet of torque. The less powerful rear-wheel drive variants produce either 266 or 290 horsepower and 387 pound-feet of torque. With costs starting at $39,990 (P2,284,548) and topping out at $57,990 (P3,312,794), the Mach-E certainly makes a strong argument for itself.
Chevrolet Colorado
Formerly sold in the Philippines, the mid-size Chevy Colorado finds itself in the same market segment as the ubiquitous Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger midsize pickups. The Colorado makes a case for itself through its standard 310 horsepower 2.7-liter turbo four and numerous trim levels to satisfy any interested buyer. It also offers the highest towing capacity in its class, with a max rating of 3493kg that outstrips both the Hilux and the Ranger. The Colorado’s interior has also been overhauled and now uses the latest Chevrolet infotainment system, including a 11.3-inch center touchscreen paired with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an optional Bose sound system. With a starting price of $33,595 (P1,919,214) that maxes out at $62,895 (P3,593,063) for the maxed out ZR2 Bison, there is a Colorado available for every need.
GMC Hummer EV
The GMC Hummer EV Pickup is a truly ludicrous four-ton monster that only an American company could envision. Thanks to its WTF (Watts to Freedom, wink wink) launch control mode, it can launch from 0 to 96kph in just 3.3 seconds which puts it on par with an Audi RS6 Avant, despite weighing nearly twice as much as the Audi. Its three-motor setup allows the Hummer EV to travel 613km on a full charge. GMC claims that 10 minutes of charging will add 160km of range to the Hummer. This behemoth also comes with an Extreme Off-Road Package that drops range to approximately 480km but adds numerous beneficial features that make off-roading more enjoyable. The Hummer gains increased underbelly protection, locking differentials, a wider variety of camera angles, and upgraded axles to go with the truck’s 35-inch mud-terrain tires should consumers opt for the off-road package. With an befittingly massive price tag starting at $99,045 (P5,658,239), the Hummer EV would make for a very entertaining addition to Philippine garages.
