This is in stark contrast to electric car marketing at the dawn of motoring. In 1900, petroleum-powered cars were in the minority (22% of all cars) and were widely considered temperamental “adventure machines” that were prone to breaking down. Electric cars were pitched as a safer, cleaner alternative that was perfect for city travel.

Tesla is the only major automaker that builds the cars it sells in the U.S., in the U.S. Whether you call it chaos or strategy, President Trump’s tariffs are redrawing the map of the auto industry in real time.