Large majority of Europeans support retaliatory tariffs against US, poll finds

VAT is (almost) the same idea as American sales tax.

The difference is only how it is managed in wholesale, how it is displayed to consumers in retail and obviously the rates. Otherwise it's the exact same thing.

European stores show the price including the tax, whereas American stores show it without taxes. The VAT rates are generally higher in Europe than the sales tax in states, but this is not the explanation for the car prices.

Cars are more expensive in Europe due to other kinds of taxes. Germany is actually one of the cheaper countries for vehicles, because they don't have vehicle registration taxes, but they do have an import toll of 10% on cars. The same price increases happens the other way too. A European car will be more expensive in USA than in Europe for the same reasons.