Rising tariffs and trade policy uncertainty have shaken Hawaii’s auto market, contributing to a 3.3% drop in new car and light truck registrations in the state during the first half of 2025 compared to a year earlier, according to a recent report from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

New vehicle sales dropped in every county statewide in that period: the Big Island was down 1.8%, Oahu 3.9%, Maui 2.8%, and Kauai 1.4%, the report shows. In the second quarter alone, vehicle registrations fell 5.8% statewide, according to HADA’s Hawaii Auto Outlook report, which cites data from Experian Automotive.

The report projects a further 5.6% drop in statewide registrations for the second half of the year, totaling a 4.5% statewide decline for 2025.

Vehicle affordability was expected to imp

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