Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast How One U.S. Heavy-Truck Components Manufacturer Is Navigating Tariffs and USMCA uncertainty
Mar 26, 2026
A manufacturer explains how Section 232 tariff rebates are reshaping sourcing choices and sometimes favoring imports. They discuss the practical steps and long validation times needed for supply chain localization. Uncertainty around USMCA is altering supplier decisions. The conversation covers shifting vehicle powertrains, growing hybrid HVAC electrification, refrigerant transitions, and plans for a clean energy testing hub.
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Clean Energy Hub Enables End to End Vehicle Testing
- TCCI opened a Clean Energy Innovation Hub to centralize teams and build end-to-end testing from component to full vehicle.
- Richard Demirjian described a new vehicle tunnel and 22-hp dyno nearing sign-off to enable full-system testing by late April.
232 Rebates Skew Incentives Toward Imported Finished Parts
- Section 232 tariff rebates can make it cheaper for OEMs to import finished compressors from TCCI's overseas plants than buy components made in the U.S.
- OEMs register finished parts for tariff relief, but TCCI cannot claim rebates on internal component part numbers like motors.
Delay Supplier Selection Until USMCA Certainty
- Do delay final supplier selection until USMCA renewal outcomes are clear, because tariff changes can quickly make validated sourcing uncompetitive.
- Demirjian notes validation takes 9–12 months and tooling can be wasted if cross-border duties change mid-process.