The big winners of Trump’s autos tariffs? Rental cars.
Hertz and Avis are rallying as auto tariffs are set to take effect in April.
The big winners of President Trump’s auto tariff announcement aren’t Tesla or Rivian, two American-made electric car firms. It’s rental car companies.
Hertz and Avis are each up roughly 20% on Thursday, the first trading day after Trump declared that his administration would slap a 25% import tax on vehicles and auto parts coming from outside the US. If the stocks stay at this level, it would be the best single day for Hertz stock and the best day for Avis since 2021.
As new cars are expected to get pricier, these companies’ fleets will suddenly become more valuable. Rental car companies often sell their used cars, which may be in higher demand while the tariffs are in place.
Retailers that sell auto parts may also get more traffic as consumers keep their cars longer. Advanced Auto Parts, O’Reilly, and Autozone all rose on Thursday as well.