Detroit Auto Show: Google, Camry And The Shadow Of Trump

Fresh off a record year for U.S. auto sales, carmakers meet in Detroit next week to show buyers what’s coming next - and ponder their own future under a Trump administration.

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More than 40 new vehicles will debut at the North American International Auto Show, which is one of the largest shows in the U.S. After record sales of 17.55 million in 2016, U.S. sales of new cars and trucks are expected to cool off a little this year, but demand remains strong.

Even if they can count on U.S. buyers, automakers aren’t sure what to make of President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has criticized Ford, General Motors and Toyota for making vehicles in Mexico and exporting them to the U.S. He is threatening a 35-percent border tax, which could throw the industry into disarray. But automakers are also hopeful that Trump will lower corporate taxes and loosen fuel economy standards and other regulations.

“It is the year of unknowns,” said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst with the car-buying site Autotrader.com.