The only American model to feature among Britain’s top 10 sellers in 2024 was the Tesla Model Y, production of which has recently switched to Berlin from Shanghai.

Meanwhile, European carmakers that have factories in the US warned that vehicles made there, such as the BMW X-series, will be hit by tariffs because they are largely assembled from imported parts.

The majority of those vehicles then go for export, making a positive contribution to the US trade balance, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.

The trade body urged Trump to “consider the negative impact of tariffs not only on global automakers but on US domestic manufacturing”.

The impact of the measures on British car companies will depend on whether the UK is treated differently from other members of the EU.

Even in the event of a so-called carve-out from the tariffs, the interconnectedness of the industry and the fact that many UK firms are EU-owned means they could still be hit.

Palmer said the best hope for top-end brands such as JLR, Bentley, Aston Martin and McLaren that are reliant on the US may be to pivot their sales efforts towards Europe, the Middle East and China, though it will be “really hard work for one or two”.

More broadly, he said the industry faces a “flock of black swans”, as the impact of tariffs comes alongside the shift to electric vehicles, increased competition from China and a drop in consumer demand.

For US automakers, he warned that the import duties are likely to distance firms once at the heart of the American economy from the shift to EVs and self-driving vehicles, with one clear consequence.

He said: “In my mind, they’re handing the market to the Chinese, which is tragic.”