Americans spend a lot of money on SUVs. Selling large numbers of SUVs in America for a tidy profit is the lifeblood that sustains high-end European performance and luxury brands. Until this year, American expansion would have been a no-brainer growth plan for brands like Cupra and Alpine.

The Volkswagen Group includes a diverse group of brands, several of which aren’t sold in the United States. Cupra is one of them, a Spanish manufacturer owned by SEAT, but with more of a sporty edge.

The vague statement doesn’t mention tariffs, but the volatile situation in the US likely played a role in the VW Group’s decision to delay launching the Cupra brand. Originally, the company had intended to bring an electric Formentor to America,