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New car prices have held about steady since 2023, with the August 2025 average of $49,077 about the same as it was two years prior. Even the introduction of tariffs hasn’t had much of an impact on sticker prices yet.
But as those levies are seemingly staying put for a while, analysts are warning that steep increases could be looming down the road.
Automakers would prefer to avoid that. Price point is the most important factor when it comes to selling a car. “Even though it’s the last thing an automaker determines, it is the most crucial,” says Ivan Drury, an analyst with Edmunds.
Prices are already near record levels, and consumers are holding onto cars longer than ever. But as tariff charges pile up, automakers are exploring ways to recoup those costs without significantly increasing the sticker price, which risks scaring away buyers.
by https://qz.com/new-car-sales-sticker-stock-price-hikes-increase-prices