If you are hoping to buy American, the latest Cars.com report should help you out. Every year, the American-Made Index is released and this year’s winners are quite the surprise. Let’s jump right in.
2023 American-Made Index Winners
Tesla comes out the sure winner this year with the most models on the list. Here are the top 12 winners out of the 100 on the list.
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Honda Passport
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Honda Odyssey
- Acura MDX
- Honda Ridgeline
- Acura RDX
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Tundra
American-Made Criteria
How does Cars.com choose which models are the most “American-made?” The automotive publication uses five criteria to make its decision. These include the following:
- Assembly location – where the vehicle gets assembled
- Parts content – how many of the parts come from American factories
- Engine origin – the country where the engine comes from
- Transmission origin – the country where the transmission comes from
- U.S. manufacturing workforce – how many of the employees are from the United States
In total, 388 vehicles undergo examination based on these factors. However, only the top 100 make the index. Anything lower than this probably isn’t very American.
What may surprise you is that some of these winners aren’t American companies. If you want to buy American, you may find that choosing a Japanese or German company may be a better option, as most of our domestic brands don’t seem to be very “American.”
What Makes Tesla so American?
Based on the methodology of Cars.com, the car needs to be built in the United States. Most of Tesla’s models come from either Fremont, California, or Austin, Texas. Plus, the battery factor is located in Sparks, Nevada. Aside from that, the majority of the workforce is American, so it makes sense that this automaker is taking up the first four spots of the index.
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