FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

American-Made Is Relative

Cars.com ranking shows many brands headquartered overseas fit the definition, though Tesla is still tops.

June 17, 2025
American-Made Is Relative

Tesla swept the top four spots on the American-made index, led by the Model 3.

Credit:

Pexels/Makara Heng

2 min to read


Just one U.S.-based auto brand made the top 10 of Cars.com’s 20th annual American-Made Index.

Texas-based Tesla took all four of the top positions on the list of 99 models determined by the automotive classifieds website to be the most American-made. 

Ad Loading...

Cars.com said it analyzed 400 2025 model-year vehicles to arrive at the ranking based on the locations of their final assembly, percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts, countries of origin of all available engines and transmissions, and U.S. manufacturing workforces.

Three of Tesla’s four chart-topping models are assembled in California, the fourth in its headquarters city of Austin, Texas, according to the report. The automaker was founded in California and moved its headquarters to Austin in 2021.

Rounding out the top 10 of the list are the Jeep Gladiator by multinational automaker Stellantis; Kia EV6; Honda’s Ridgeline, Odyssey and Passport; and Volkswagen’s ID.4. The highest-ranking model by a U.S.-based automaker is the Chevrolet Colorado at No. 19.

President Donald Trump, in imposing trade tariffs on automotive imports, has targeted increased domestic production. Some automakers have since planned to expand stateside manufacturing, including General Motors, which said it will invest $4 billion among plants in Michigan, Kansas and Tennessee.

“We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” said Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra in a press release on the plans. 

Ad Loading...

But Cars.com pointed out that shifting production isn’t an overnight process. It described it as “glacial.” Tesla, meanwhile, had already been focusing production in the U.S.

“It’s not just that these vehicles feature a high percentage of U.S./Canadian parts content or major components assembled here in the U.S., it’s also the fact that they have so many people building these cars,” the company said, explaining that it weighs the workforce factor heavily in its ranking. “… this year it was a decisive factor in Tesla’s dominance atop the index.”

DIG DEEPER: Tariff Impact Forecast

 

More Industry

Tires hung up on wall in factory.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 28, 2026

Future-Proof Your Business

A new industry outlook details several ways that automotive companies can use the rise in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to their advantage.

Read More →
'for sale' written on a building window
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 23, 2026

Dealership Buy-Sells Keep Going Up

First-half transactions reflect continued high appetite for acquisitions despite falling profits, the most sought-after franchises bringing record prices.

Read More →
White road sign that says California and points to highway 400.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 23, 2026

California Makes Electric Moves

New laws in the Golden State aim to advance consumer access to public electric-vehicle chargers and reduce costs and barriers to its infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Closeup photo of an orange car battery
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 21, 2026

Rare Earths Independence

Automakers seek alternatives to sourcing battery raw materials in volatile markets roiled by trade wars and disrupted supply chains.

Read More →
Smiling executive sitting at table with folded hands.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 21, 2026

Volvo Appoints President and CEO

Klaus Zellmer will replace Håkan Samuelsson as president and CEO of Volvo Cars in 2027 as the company makes strategic shifts toward profitability and cash generation.

Read More →
Open hood of a Volkswagen vehicle with a mechanic's rag draped over the front
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 18, 2026

Fix Up Your Fixed Ops

The department may hold untapped potential for your dealership. This issue of the magazine shares ways to unearth it and turn it around for more profits.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
White drawing  on brick surface of car with a charger cable sticking out of it
Industry•by Hannah Mitchell•September 16, 2026

Easier EV Charging Touted

Wireless charging pad provides automatic powering by just parking, says its maker, which sees a cable-free charger future as global EV demand grows.

Read More →
Toy car in front of four stacks of coins with wooden arrow showing increase.
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 16, 2026

Vehicle Ownership Costs Rising

Fuel prices, car prices and depreciation are all factors for new vehicles, and this year’s average annual numbers are up with the inclusion of electrics and hybrids.

Read More →
red Toyota logo on front of white dealership
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 14, 2026

Toyota Tops Longevity List

Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura came out on top in iSeeCars’ latest longest-lasting car brand study, all eclipsing the overall average chance of reaching 250,000 miles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
two men in Army uniforms looking under the hood of a car
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•September 10, 2026

From Military Service to Service Bay

Shifting Gears aims to alleviate the strain caused by the auto industry’s technician shortage while easing the sometimes jarring transition that veterans face after leaving the Army.

Read More →