Many people want to support local manufacturing by buying American — but in practice, that can be far more complex than picking between Ford, General Motors and the company formerly known as FCA and now called Stellantis. The automotive industry is a complex international web of factories and suppliers. So American companies like Ford and GM may produce many components, if not entire cars overseas — and foreign manufacturers like Honda and Toyota often build vehicles in America explicitly for the American market.
So how do you find vehicles that are actually as American-made as possible? Cars.com did the research for you, compiling its Most American Made Vehicles list for 2021 by considering five factors: assembly location, parts sourcing, U.S. factory employment relative to vehicle production, engine sourcing and transmission sourcing. Five of the top 10 were from foreign manufacturers. Another two were from Tesla. And the Toyota Tundra, ironically enough, is the most American full-size pickup.
Check out the 10 most American-made cars.
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Tesla
These Are the 10 Most American-Made New Cars of 2021
Want to support local manufacturing? Here are the most American-made cars you can buy.
Ford
2. Ford Mustang
Assembled: Flat Rock, MI
Ford
3. Tesla Model Y
Assembled: Fremont, CA
Tesla
Jeep Cherokee
Why it’s being discontinued: Cherokee is one of the most storied — and controversial — nameplates in the Jeep lineage. But the new model bears little resemblance to the vaunted XJ in form or function. It’s expensive — now starting at nearly $40,000 (about the same price as the base Grand Cherokee). It also faces a ton of excellent competition from other manufacturers.
FCA US LLC
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Chevrolet
The semiconductor shortage is starting to bite the auto industry
We knew back in January that the semiconductor shortage would be bad for the auto industry — even the humblest car is now a complicated computer — but the gravity is settling here in February. GM has been forced to idle three North American plants; Ford, in maybe the most glaring sign there’s an issue, is cutting back F-150 production.
Ford
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Honda
7. Honda Odyssey
Assembled: Lincoln, AL
Wesley Allison
8. Honda Pilot
Assembled: Lincoln, AL
Honda
2021 Honda Passport
Dealer Inventory: 31 Days
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The Best All-Terrain Tires Money Can Buy
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