Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a sharp warning after reports emerged that several major German automakers have quietly frozen or delayed expansion plans across the United States, redirecting billions of dollars in future investment toward Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

The developments, while not formally announced, are already reverberating through America’s industrial heartland, where state officials and labor leaders fear the early signs of a deeper shift in global automotive manufacturing — particularly in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle supply chain.

According to people familiar with the matter, proposed factory expansions and supplier facilities in Midwestern and Southern states have been placed “under review,” as companies reassess long-term costs, trade stability, and regulatory alignment. At the same time, new production commitments are accelerating south of the U.S. border, fueled by favorable trade frameworks, lower labor costs, and coordinated EV incentives.

Mr. Trump, speaking to supporters during a private meeting in Florida, criticized what he described as “strategic disinvestment disguised as patience.”

“When companies stop building in America and quietly move capital to Canada and Mexico, American workers pay the price,” he said. “This is how industries slip away — not overnight, but decision by decision.”

A Silent Retrenchment

Executives from Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have publicly reaffirmed their “long-term commitment” to the U.S. market. Yet internal planning documents reviewed by industry analysts suggest a more cautious approach, with capital expenditures increasingly weighted toward Mexico-based EV assembly, battery production in Ontario, and supplier clusters aligned with North American trade rules.

Industry experts say the shift reflects structural pressures rather than political posturing.

“Automakers are following the math,” said Elaine Porter, a senior analyst at AutoTrends Global. “EV production depends on tightly integrated supply chains. Canada offers stable policy and battery minerals. Mexico offers cost efficiency and trade access. The U.S., by contrast, is wrestling with regulatory uncertainty and rising operational costs.”

The First Industry at Risk

While auto assembly plants capture headlines, economists warn that the first sector likely to feel the impact is not vehicle manufacturing itself, but the vast network of auto parts and component suppliers that underpin the industry.

“These suppliers operate on thin margins and long-term volume guarantees,” said Marcus Hill, a manufacturing economist at the University of Michigan. “If new model production shifts south, tooling, electronics, wiring harnesses, and battery modules will follow. Once that ecosystem moves, it rarely comes back.”

Several supplier hubs in Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee have already reported paused hiring plans and delayed equipment upgrades — subtle signals that typically precede broader contraction.

Political and Economic Fault Lines

The investment slowdown arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as trade policy and industrial competitiveness re-emerge as central themes in the 2026 election cycle. Mr. Trump has seized on the issue as evidence that current economic policies are failing to protect domestic manufacturing.

White House officials, however, argue that U.S. auto investment remains historically strong, pointing to recent announcements from American and Asian manufacturers. They caution against overstating unconfirmed reports.

Still, labor unions are uneasy. “Workers don’t need press releases — they need cranes in the ground,” said a spokesperson for the United Auto Workers.

A Long-Term Signal

Analysts emphasize that the concern is not a single canceled factory, but a pattern: delayed commitments, redirected capital, and strategic patience that favors alternative corridors over U.S. soil.

“If this trend continues,” Ms. Porter said, “America risks becoming an end-market rather than a manufacturing anchor in the next generation of the auto industry.”

For now, the factories remain open and the announcements measured. But in the quiet recalibration of global investment flows, many see an early warning — one that could redefine where the future of automotive power is built.