Buy American Made! This pseudo battle cry has sounded for many decades, but it’s become increasingly harder to find the most American-made cars to drive.
When you buy products made in America, you support the domestic economy and recycle your money into it. Unfortunately, many American companies have found that similar products are made much cheaper in other countries, such as China, Thailand, and Mexico. If you want to buy domestic products and feel a bit patriotic about that choice, you’ll want to choose from the lists of vehicles below.
What does it mean to be the most American-made car?
Every vehicle on the road today has parts manufactured outside of the United States. That said, some cars have a much higher percentage of American-made parts than others. This is what it means to have the most American-made cars in today’s market. No longer is everything built in Detroit using Pittsburgh steel. The electronics, safety systems, and even engines often come from foreign countries. What might surprise you is how many domestic brands have shifted away from domestic production and utilize foreign parts and assembly in their vehicles.
What is the most American-made car in 2025?
Typically, a list article might make you wait until the end to reveal the name at the top of the list, but that’s not the case this time. The car that has the highest percentage of American-made parts is the Tesla Model 3 Performance. In fact, Tesla’s entire lineup takes the top spots as the most American-made automotive manufacturer. This allows the company, which only makes electric vehicles, to take advantage of the tax breaks associated with EVs and provide American consumers with the confidence they are buying a domestic product.
However…
In spite of the current political climate and the actions taken by Tesla’s CEO, you might be soured on the idea of buying a Tesla. It’s also possible you’re not ready to commit to an electric vehicle, especially since the current federal administration has halted building more public EV charging stations. If that’s the case, you’ll have other options that are high on the list.
After the Model 3, the next nine models that are the most American-made cars are:
- Honda Passport
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Tesla Model S
- Honda Odyssey
- Honda Ridgeline
- Toyota Camry
- Jeep Gladiator
- Tesla Model X
- Lexus TX
Where are the trucks?
Aren’t pickup trucks made in America? These vehicles are pure Americana, especially the half-ton models. The list above came from USA Today, but other sources suggest the list of American-made cars is a little different and has several trucks on it. According to SlashGear, the most American-made vehicles are:
- Ford F-150
- Ford F-150 Lightning
- Rivian R1T
- Lucid Air
- BMW X5
- Mercedes-Benz GLE
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Camry
- Cadillac Escalade
- Kia Telluride
Are you confused yet?
Another source muddies the waters
If you think two separate lists with completely different names are confusing, maybe a third list can help create some clarity. According to the Kogod School of Business, the most American-made cars are:
- Tesla Model 3 Performance
- Tesla Mode Y
- Tesla Cybertruck
- Tesla Model S and Model X
- Ford Mustang GT
- Honda Passport
- Jeep Wrangler
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon
- Honda Odyssey, Ridgeline, and Pilot
- Lincoln Corsair
This list provides some consistency with the USA Today list but still leaves some models in question. How will you know which vehicles are mostly made in America and which models, regardless of brand name, aren’t built with as many American-made parts? If the proposed tariffs go into effect, it will be pretty obvious as vehicle prices increase, but so far, no tariffs have been imposed on the automotive sector.
Which brands have changed over the past decade?
In addition to looking at the most American-made cars, let’s consider the changes in brand commitment to utilizing American parts in their vehicles. Some companies have made a stronger commitment to building vehicles in America with parts made here, while others have done the opposite. This study from the Kogod School of Business shows companies that have either increased or decreased their use of American parts from 2015 to 2024.
Brand |
2015 |
2024 |
| FCA/Stellantis | 60 | 46 |
| Ford | 65 | 54 |
| GM | 66 | 54 |
| Honda | 50 | 63 |
| Hyundai/Kia | 17.5 | 17 |
| Nissan | 22 | 24 |
| Tesla | 77 | 81 |
| Toyota | 27.5 | 29 |
| VW | 8.2 | 35 |
As you can see, domestic brands, also known as the Detroit Big Three, all decreased their commitment to utilizing American parts and American-made cars during the past decade. This occurred while many foreign brands increased their commitment to American-made products.
