How do you know if your car is made in the United States? The pride that Americans used to take in owning a “made in America” vehicle seemed to fade for a few years, but has recently returned, along with a strong desire to help local businesses and the American economy. But while this should be an easy question to answer, given that almost everyone knows which automakers are American companies, these days it’s not that simple. It has become difficult to even say what constitutes an “American-made car,” since automakers now have plants around the world. Foreign companies are now making cars in the United States, while Ford, GMC, and Chrysler can make vehicles globally.
Today, it is almost impossible to find a vehicle that is 100 percent made in the US While most US automakers still make vehicles here, the parts that go into those cars can be imported from foreign countries. Also, each car manufacturer may have different cars built in different countries. For example, while Chevy builds its Tahoe in the United States, the Camaro is built in Canada. These types of global expansion make it difficult to know exactly where your vehicle was manufactured.
However, there are ways to determine which cars are more American than others. New car labels tell consumers where the vehicle was assembled and where certain parts, such as the engine and transmission, originated. While it is up to the individual consumer to decide what constitutes Made in America, these labels can help make that determination, since most of the work involved in making a car is done in the assembly plant. Therefore, although a vehicle’s engine or transmission can be imported, if it is assembled in the United States, it is more or less made in the United States.
Another thing to consider is whether a foreign company that makes vehicles in the United States could be considered made in the United States. Currently, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW have assembly plants in the United States. In fact, Honda makes more vehicles in the United States than in its home country of Japan; and Kia recently celebrated its 100,000 Sorento rolling off the line at its West Point, Georgia plant. Volkswagen has also announced plans to open its first plant in the United States, in Tennessee.
Some examples of foreign models that are actually made locally include Toyota’s Camry and Highlander, Hyundai’s Sonata and Elantra, BMW’s X-series SUVs, and Mercedes’ ML, R, and G-class vehicles. Telsa’s electric vehicles are also being assembled in the US, but the bodywork is completed in England before shipping to California.
Finally, wherever vehicles are made, Ford, GM, and Chrysler still do all of their development and administrative work in the United States. Therefore, by shopping at Detroit Big Three, you will always support the American economy.
