The fluorescent lights of Leo’s Garage hummed, casting a sterile glow on the rows of identical, sleek vehicles. Gone were the greasy tools, the scent of oil and gasoline, and the satisfying clink of metal on metal that Leo remembered from his father’s time. Now, the shop was eerily quiet, filled with the soft whirring of diagnostic computers.
A frustrated Mrs. Henderson stood beside her gleaming, obsidian-black sedan. “It just stopped working, Leo,” she sighed, running a manicured hand over the seamless body. “The dashboard went completely blank.”
Leo plugged his diagnostic tablet into the car’s port. Lines of code scrolled across the screen, revealing a fault in the central processing unit. “It seems the main module has failed, Mrs. Henderson,” Leo explained, his voice devoid of the enthusiasm he once held for his profession. “Unfortunately, it can’t be repaired. We’ll have to order a replacement.”
Mrs. Henderson’s shoulders slumped. “How long will that take? And how much will it cost?”
Leo sighed. “Well, the CPU is sourced from overseas. With the new tariffs… President Trump mentioned they might give the auto industry a temporary break to adjust their supply chains, but nothing is certain yet. As things stand, the price of imported parts has gone up significantly. Analyst estimates suggest car prices could jump by $5,000 to $10,000 because of these tariffs. The module itself will likely be quite expensive, and the shipping time is unpredictable.”
He remembered the news reports about how deeply integrated the automotive supply chains were across North America and beyond. Experts said it was practically impossible to build a car entirely in the U.S. because so many components came from Canada, Mexico, and even China. These tariffs, intended to bring manufacturing back to the States, were instead making repairs costly and time-consuming.
“So, I’m stuck without a car, and it’s going to cost a fortune?” Mrs. Henderson’s voice was laced with exasperation.
Leo nodded grimly. “I’m afraid so. These new cars… they’re not like the old ones. Everything is integrated. If one part fails, you can’t just fix it; you have to replace the entire module. There’s no tuning, no customization anymore. It’s all just plug and play, and when it doesn’t play, it’s a major headache.”
He thought back to the days when he could tinker with an engine, adjust the carburetor, or even fabricate a custom part. Now, his expertise was limited to reading diagnostic codes and swapping out expensive, sealed units. The artistry and the personal touch were gone, replaced by a cold, efficient system that left both mechanics and car owners feeling helpless when things went wrong. The temporary reprieve on tariffs that President Trump had hinted at couldn’t come soon enough, Leo thought, not just for the sake of his customers’ wallets, but for the future of his trade.
All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms
Trump considers pause on auto tariffs to give carmakers more time to relocate production
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