Report: Detroit 3 Raise Destination and Delivery to Offset Tariffs
A USA Today/Detroit Free Press report backed by Edmunds data finds Ford, General Motors and Stellantis have accelerated increases in destination and delivery charges in what experts call a calculated move to pass along the cost of new tariffs on units built or assembled outside the U.S. and sold here.
“Nearly all” factories raised their fees, but the Detroit 3 stand out, writes the Detroit Free Press’s Jamie L. LaReau: Edmunds analysts say average destination and delivery is up by 40% for Ford and GM and 33% for Stellantis since 2021.
“Within the past year, the Detroit automakers have increased the destination charge across their pickup lineups for GMC, Chevrolet, Ford and Ram brands, from $1,995 in the past to $2,595 for 2026 models,” LaReau writes, noting Stellantis now charges the industry’s highest average fee at just over $2,000 per unit across its North American lineup.
Telemetry’s Sam Abuelsamid tells LaReau the reason behind the price hikes is clear.
“They are hiding some of the tariff costs in the destination charge,” Abuelsamid says. “Because you can’t opt out of the delivery charge even if you live next to the factory and pick your vehicle at the gate. It should just be part of the price.”
