Detroit, MI

Automakers seek clarity as reports suggest Detroit 3 may avoid big tariffs

Published

9 months ago

March 24, 2025

Press Room

Automakers seek clarity as reports suggest Detroit 3 may avoid big tariffs

Automakers have been lobbying the White House to avoid tariffs, arguing they would hurt the industry.
Industry analysts say uncertainty over tariffs is detrimental to the auto industry.

The U.S. auto industry Monday morning sought clarity over the latest news implying that automakers might dodge the most dreaded tariffs. Reports over the weekend said President Donald Trump’s administration is likely to exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on April 2.

The auto industry would be part of those sector-specific tariffs to be excluded, according to reports in Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal, which both cited officials as sources. Stocks soared Monday on the reports.

On Monday morning, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis declined to comment. General Motors deferred comment to the American Automotive Policy Council, the lobbying group for the Detroit Three, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Some of the automakers said their policy teams were still seeking clarity on what this development will mean for them.

Similarly, the supplier industry trade association MEMA declined comment, with spokesperson Megan Gardner telling the Free Press, “At this point, given the uncertainty and evolving nature of the tariff discussions, we’re focusing our commentary on more concrete policy developments. That said, we’re closely monitoring the situation and will be ready to comment if and when the administration provides more clarity.”

A White House official said Trump is still deciding what he will do about sector-specific tariffs on April 2 or afterward, and no final decision has been made. This person provided the information to the Free Press asking to not be named because they are not authorized to speak on the record.

The UAW, which has come out in support of tariffs, believing they will boost U.S. manufacturing, had not provided a reaction.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents automakers, did not immediately respond to a request for a comment, but it has said that tariffs would have a “negative impact on vehicle price and vehicle availability” that would be felt almost immediately.

The Detroit car companies have continually been communicating with the White House. The Detroit Free Press has learned from at least three sources that the top executives from the Detroit automakers have been regularly visiting or communicating with Trump over the past several weeks in an attempt to outline the dire impact tariffs would have on the industry. These sources asked to not be named because they are not authorized to share that information publicly, but one of them said the talks with Trump have not always gone smoothly.

It’s partly for that reason, along with the vagueness of this latest development, that some industry analysts aren’t ready to say the auto industry is in the clear.

“I can’t imagine anyone saying, ‘Phew we’re done! That’s it.’ That’s not how it works with this guy,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions, of Trump. “The administration has to comfort everyone by adamantly stating that there will be no tariffs on automotives before anyone can get comfortable.”

A ‘step back from the edge’ for Detroit

Don’t tell that to Wall Street because the market reacted with glee Monday morning on the news, pushing the stock prices of all three Detroit automakers higher.

Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities global head of Technology Research and managing director and senior equity analyst, told the Free Press that investors believe the auto sector likely “is out of the woods for now.”

“This is all a game of high-stakes poker and Trump knows the massive implications this would have on the auto sector in the U.S.,” Ives said in an email. “The Big 3 auto stalwarts have clearly communicated the message to the White House and it appears to be working. Huge step back from the edge for the 313 auto industry.”

Here’s where tariffs stand: Trump has increased tariffs on goods imported from China to 20%. He has imposed tariffs of 25% on Canadian and Mexican goods, but has exempted auto industry companies that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement from the tariffs until April 2. Earlier this month, he announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all countries, which will impact carmakers. Many countries have responded with imposing retaliatory tariffs on goods coming from the United States.

Trump said he supports tariffs, which are taxes paid by importers on goods when they cross a border, to encourage countries to halt illegal immigration and keep fentanyl out of the United States. He has also said tariffs will spur manufacturers to add more U.S. production.

In the case of cars, the Detroit automakers are already operating most of their plants at full capacity and as Ford CEO Jim Farley has said his company will not be building new plants in the states anytime soon, citing the billions of dollars it costs to build a new factory and the years it requires.

Canada happy to hear the news

One Local UAW leader told the Free Press Monday, “My instant reaction to this news would be, OK great for the auto industry. Now hopefully all the other industries can get Trump onboard so that they won’t be destroyed either.”

This union leader asked to not be named because he is not authorized to share his opinion publicly on the president’s policies.

In the meantime, Ford and GM have been hustling autos and parts across the Canadian border as quickly as possible ahead of potential 25% tariffs on April 2. Unifor, the union that represents Canada’s autoworkers, has been helping them and was relieved to hear the news Monday.

“That is obviously fantastic news,” John D’Agnolo, president of Unifor Local 200 and chair of the Auto Council for Unifor, told the Free Press Monday. “There were thousands and thousands of jobs in jeopardy. I’m quite pleased (Trump) was able to look at the impact it would have. I know the automakers were laying out the complexity of it all so he could understand how it all works across the three nations.”

Unifor Local 200 represents some 2,000 workers at Ford’s Essex Engine and Windsor Engine plants in Windsor, Ontario. It provides the engines that power Ford’s bestselling F-Series pickups, which are built in Dearborn, Kentucky and Ohio. D’Agnolo said just one truck full of 45 Ford engines used in the popular Super Duty pickup would cost Ford about $70,000 in tariffs if Trump imposts a 25% tariff on Canada and does not exempt autos.

D’Agnolo said his union is still helping push as many engines out of the plants and onto trucks to get them to the states as fast as possible to help Ford. He said he’s seeing vehicles coming into Canada from the states at a rapid pace too — all of it is an attempt to get as much product over borders in the event Trump does decide to impose the 25% tax. He believes this latest news indicates that Trump will permanently exempt tariffs on autos, at least “for now.”

“Things could change as we all know, but I’m believing that he recognized, with all the work that’s being done to show him, the damage to the industry,” D’Agnolo said. “I’m sure he wouldn’t know every aspect of the industry and how it runs on all three borders.”

A bad move politically

Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Insights, said he expects Trump will exempt autos from broad tariffs.

“Over the last couple of months, the automakers have been lobbying aggressively to find their way around these tariffs,” Abuelsamid said. “The negative economic impact of these tariffs would be huge. They may be realizing from a political standpoint it would do more harm than good to have these tariffs, from the job losses to the spike in inflation.”

Fiorani said April 2 can’t come soon enough so that there is clarity for the industry.

“Uncertainty in the auto industry is detrimental to the way they do business,” Fiorani said. “Not knowing how much it’s going to cost to bring a part across next month or next year really throws a problem in their budgets and this is not an industry that makes a lot of money relative to the outpouring of investment.”

When the automakers make decisions on North American production it is for the long term, he said. The industry appreciates the value of free trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico so, “suddenly putting a tariff in there is not going to change the production location of any part or vehicles because it takes too much time to do that. They cannot react on a sudden whim.”

This is a developing story.

Todd Spangler and Jackie Charniga contributed to this report.

Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

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Detroit, MI

‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats

Published

4 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

‘Love being a pedo’: Metro Detroit doctor, attorney, therapist accused in web of child porn chats

DETROIT – Three men — a doctor, an attorney, and a therapist — from Oakland and Wayne counties are involved in a web of child pornography chats, and some sexually abused young boys, according to federal officials.

The investigation into the men began after the FBI arrested a man in Toledo who had communicated with an undercover agent posing as a parent.

The man was arrested in March after traveling to Toledo in an attempt to sexually abuse a 7-year-old girl and a 6-month-old baby he believed existed.

Text messages found during the investigation revealed that all four men spoke casually about wanting to sexually abuse children, including those as young as 4 years old.

Jeremy Brian Tacon

During the investigation, agents reviewed chat conversations between Huntington Woods resident Jeremy Brian Tacon and the Toledo suspect, which reportedly included discussions expressing sexual interest in children and requests for additional child pornography.

One alleged text message to Tacon read, “Whatcha wanna see pedo?”

After Tacon responded, he reportedly received at least a dozen videos containing child sexual abuse material.

The Toledo suspect allegedly texted Tacon, “Wish we could find a kiddo and have our way together. Take him to a hotel and [explicit].”

“F*** yes brother,” Tacon reportedly sent back.

In November, the FBI executed a search warrant at Tacon’s home and seized his phone. When agents called the phone number linked to the text messages, Tacon’s phone rang.

Tacon was a licensed psychotherapist who worked at the Arbor Wellness Center.

In a statement, Arbor Wellness Center wrote, “Our first priority was, as always, ensuring client safety and continuity of care. There is no indication that these charges are related to the agency or its clients.

Mr. Tacon was an independent contractor on a limited contract and is no longer a part of the agency.”

Joshua Ronnebaum

Another man who allegedly had been texting with the Toledo suspect was Detroiter Joshua Ronnebaum.

From June 2022 to July 2023, the two men allegedly spoke about their shared interest in sexually abusing children. The Toledo suspect reportedly said he met up with Ronnebaum to do drugs, have sex and watch child sexually abusive materials.

Ronnebaum reportedly told the suspect he lived in a Detroit mansion with three other men, one of whom is also under FBI investigation.

Ronnebaum is a prominent attorney in Detroit who also reportedly served on the Palmer Woods Association Board of Directors. He practices environmental and immigration law.

Two neighbors Local 4 spoke with said they frequently interacted with Ronnebaum due to his position on the board. They said they weren’t surprised to hear about the allegations and that they were aware of all of it, stating it felt like Ronnebaum was pushing a personal agenda.

A search warrant was executed in November on the home and seized 38 media storage devices, including an iPhone that was allegedly on the nightstand next to Ronnebaum’s bed.

The iPhone’s screen was reportedly on and was displaying a prompt asking if the user wanted to confirm they wanted to delete the Telegram app.

Photo of Ronnebaum’s iPhone from the FBI affidavit. (WDIV)

Telegram is an encrypted messaging app, authorities said is frequently used in the distribution of sexually abusive materials.

Authorities believe Ronnebaum tried to delete Telegram when he realized the FBI was searching his home.

Another iPhone found in his closet reportedly contained more than 150 images meeting the federal definition of child pornography, including images of infants and toddlers being sexually abused.

Text messages reportedly found on Ronnebaum’s phone, where he spoke about being an English teacher in Japan and abusing a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old boy.

He allegedly shared that story with several people.

Lincoln Erickson

One of the conversations found on Ronnebaum’s phone was allegedly between him and Farmington Hills resident Lincoln Erickson.

Lincoln Erickson (WDIV)

Erickson is a physical rehabilitation doctor who graduated from Wayne State University and worked with the Detroit Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. He has since been fired from his position.

“The individual in question has been terminated from the joint WSU-DMC Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program,” read a statement from Detroit Medical Center.

Erickson and Ronnebaum allegedly spoke about wanting to travel to Thailand and sexually abusing children together.

“Love being a pedo,” read one text message.

Erickson reportedly shared a fantasy about having a relationship with a man where they would raise a child together that they would abuse and groom “from baby to adulthood.”

“Start them young,” read one message.

The FBI said Erickson reportedly shared in messages that he knows a father who allows him to abuse his 3-year-old son sexually.

Erickson was arrested at a Detroit hospital where he worked as a medical resident. During the arrest, he reportedly admitted to receiving child pornography he believed was AI-generated from a man in Chicago.

In a search of Erickson’s phone, a Telegram chat was found where he reportedly asked another man to share videos with him.

“Bro, I love other pedophiles,” he allegedly told the man. “So hot.”

Authorities said Erickson is currently on probation for a 2024 domestic violence case.

All three men — Tacon, Ronnebaum, and Erickson — are now facing federal charges related to possession and distribution of child pornography.

Ronnebaum and Erickson are expected to appear in court Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m.

Parents, caregivers, and teachers can receive guidance on safeguarding children from online and offline dangers, including child abductions and sexual exploitation.

To report online child sexual exploitation, use the Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678, operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in collaboration with the FBI and other agencies.

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Detroit, MI

Lions no longer control own destiny to postseason after loss to Rams

Published

16 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Lions no longer control own destiny to postseason after loss to Rams

Inglewood, Calif. — Despite all the errors and issues facing them this season, the Detroit Lions entered Sunday relying on one reassuring truth: They controlled their own destiny for a spot in the postseason.

Following a 41-34 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, that is no longer the case.

The Lions will now not only have to win their remaining games in the regular season, but also get some help from other teams as they hope to jump the San Francisco 49ers (10-4), Chicago Bears (10-4) or Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) for one of the NFC’s top seven seeds.

Detroit’s best path to the playoffs remains finishing better than the Bears, who host the Lions in Week 18. The Lions, with a win in the finale, could secure a tiebreaker over Chicago. Put simply: If the Bears lose one of their next two contests (vs. the Packers and at the 49ers) and Detroit wins out, the Lions would bounce them from the playoffs.

“We’ve got to take it one week at time, that’s the biggest thing. … Don’t look too far ahead, don’t start counting games (or) looking at teams,” said receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had 164 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. “Just focus on the task at hand, the team we’ve got up. Put all your energy into that and take it one week at a time.”

Next up for the Lions is a home tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who play the Miami Dolphins on Monday. Following that will be road tests at the Minnesota Vikings and Bears. The Lions were upset by Minnesota in Week 9 but smoked Chicago in Week 2, though the Bears have won all but two of their games since.

Sunday’s result in Los Angeles doesn’t change the already heightened level of urgency the team had heading into the game, linebacker Jack Campbell said: “Every game in the NFL, you’ve got to be urgent. You’ve got win every single game. That’s what it comes down to, and we haven’t been doing that. We put ourselves in this position. … I feel like every guy in this locker room’s been urgent since we showed up (for training camp).”

Dan Campbell’s Lions have been praised for their resolve over the last handful of years. They showed it last season, when they marched to 15 wins in spite of being the NFL’s most injured team. They’ll need that quality over the next three weeks — they haven’t won consecutive games since Week 5 — in addition to some luck.

“I believe in the guys on this team (and) the character of the players on this team, our captains, the core of it. … I know we can do it. These players know we can do it,” Campbell said. “You go back to work, man. I don’t believe for one second anybody’s lost confidence. … We’ve got three to go here. We don’t control our own destiny, but we need to win these three, and it starts with Pittsburgh at home.”

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18

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Detroit, MI

What are Detroit Lions’ NFL playoffs odds? Latest playoff picture

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

What are Detroit Lions’ NFL playoffs odds? Latest playoff picture

The Detroit Lions needed some help from an AFC rival to improve their playoff odds before their Week 15 matchup, but they didn’t get the outcome they desired.

The Lions (8-5, 3rd in NFC North) are facing off against the NFC’s top-seeded Los Angeles Rams (10-3, 1st in NFC West) on Sunday, Dec. 14, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. As the NFC’s No. 8 seed, the Lions entered the day with a 54% chance to make the playoffs per NFL Next Gen Stats, but those odds fell with the result in Chicago.

With the No. 7-seeded Chicago Bears hosting the 3-10 Cleveland Browns, Lions fans were hoping for a Browns upset to drop the Bears to 9-5 and allow the Lions to move into a playoff position with a win, since a 9-5 Lions team would own a tiebreaker over Chicago (thanks to their Week 2 victory). However, the Bears took care of business on a frigid day at Soldier Field, beating the Browns, 31-3, to improve to 10-4.

With the Bears beating the Browns, the Lions playoff odds have now lowered to 52% ahead of their game against the Rams (4:25 p.m., Fox). Here’s a look at what the rest of the NFC playoff picture looks like, including how a Lions win can help improve their position.

Lions playoff scenarios

Here’s the latest info on how the Lions can make it into the NFL playoffs, how they could miss out and what their playoff odds are.

What are Lions’ odds to make NFL playoffs?

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Lions have a 52% chance of making the playoffs. If they beat the Rams, they will have a 73% chance to make the postseason, but those odds drop to 40% with a loss.

NFC playoff standings

Only the top seven teams make the playoffs in each conference. Here are the NFC standings entering the Lions Week 15 game against the Rams, with playoff odds from NFL Next Gen Stats:

Rams: 10-3, 97%
Packers: 9-3-1, 92%
Eagles: 9-5, 95%
Panthers: 7-6, 47%
Seahawks: 10-3, 97%
Bears, 10-4, 68%
49ers: 9-4, 93%
*Lions: 8-5, 52%
*Buccaneers: 7-7, 54%
*Cowboys: 6-6-1, 8%

*Currently out of the playoffs

How Lions can make NFL playoffs

The Lions still control their own playoff destiny despite currently being out of the playoff picture as the No. 8 seed. However, if the Lions lose any of their four remaining regular-season games, they will need additional outcomes to break their way in order to make it to the postseason.

If the Lions go 4-0 in their remaining regular-season games and finish 12-5, they will make the playoffs no matter the outcome of any other game (and have an outside shot of grabbing the No. 1 seed in the NFC).
If the Lions go 3-1 in their final four games and finish 11-6, they will still make the playoffs if the Bears go 1-2 in their final three games and one of those two losses is to Detroit. An 11-6 Lions team could also theoretically overtake the San Francisco 49ers for a wild-card spot, but that would require the 49ers to lose three of their last four games.
If the Lions go 2-2 in their final four games and finish 10-7, they will have a very difficult time of making the playoffs, especially if one of those losses is to Chicago. In that scenario, either the Rams or 49ers would need to lose all four of their remaining regular-season games for the Lions to make the playoffs.
If the Lions go 1-3 in their final four games and finish 9-8, they will have virtually no shot at making the playoffs unless that one win is against the Bears – and Detroit’s playoff odds would still be minute even with a win in Chicago.
The Lions will be eliminated from playoff contention if they go 0-4 in their final four games and finish 8-9 on the season.