Earlier this week, Can-Am celebrated a major milestone. Its return to two-wheel motorcycles.
Now, I know what you're saying, we've already seen the bikes. We've already tested the bikes. What's this about the return? Well, those were preproduction units, as we found out on our tests, and its proper return involves the first production motorcycles off the company's factory line in Querétaro, Mexico. Bikes meant for everyone, not just us journalists who demand free shrimp and pampered luxury.
No, these bikes will be shipping out to dealerships so that the public, that's you, can finally get a taste of what these bikes are all about. Feel what electricity feels like when they're routed through Can-Am wizardry.
But while everyone else in the space is celebrating the fact, including Can-Am, I can't help but do my best Debbie Downer impersonation, asking the question: Aren't these bikes going to become about $4,000 more expensive come January 20th? Is anyone willing to pay nearly $20,000 for these?
Of course, I'm talking about Trump's proposed tariffs. The president-elect recently stated that any and all products and goods coming from both Canada and Mexico would immediately receive a 25% import tariff once he gets into the big chair once again. "On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” said Trump on a Truth Social post.
It's unclear whether he'll go through with them, however, as both Canada's Justin Trudeau and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum have had calls with the president-elect in recent weeks discussing matters of trade. For her part, however, Sheinbaum told the press that if Trump goes through with his proposed tariffs, they'll be met with tariffs of their own on goods coming from the United States into Mexico.
This is the same thing the UK and Europe did last time he was in office, which affected products such as Harley-Davidson. But these new tariffs will absolutely, if enacted, include Can-Ams new EVs, which are, again, made in Mexico.
Some back-of-the-napkin math, as checked by my team who actually know how math works, details just how much more Americans might be spending on Can-Am's new EVs. As for the Origin, which is the more expensive of the two, the base price as of right now is $14,499. A 25% tariff on the bike would be $3,624.75. Let's just call it $3,625 to make it easy. That means the Origin would cost about $18,125, minus tax, title, and destination. The lesser priced of the two, the Pulse, would be about $17,500 after the tariff and, again, before tax, title, and destination.
So what you're looking at then are nearly $20,000 motorcycles out the door and that, dear friends, would be a hard pill to swallow in the year of our dark lord 2025. Especially when interest rates are still relatively high, wage growth is nonexistent, and everyday prices are through the roof. Hopefully, the parties involved can make a deal, I mean, that's his whole schtick, right?
Because if they can't, I fear for Can-Am's return to two wheels.
