"Buying American" Is Top Priority for US Consumers

When looking to buy a new car, adult consumers across the nation are increasingly choosing American-built models over imports. Supporting the economy has become a more important factor than finding the best deal.

According to a Rasmussen Reports poll made in November, before the General Motors IPO, an increase in the number of people interested in buying domestic-built vehicle was recorded. The report also showed consumers are starting to consider US-manufactured Toyotas or BMWs to be the same as buying an American car.

Forty-one percent of the people involved in the poll said they want “American” when they're in the market for a vehicle, compared to just 12 percent who said they look first for a foreign-built car. These figures suggest recent economic conditions have made Americans more united in supporting the traditional badges like Chevrolet and Cadillac. Back in June 2008, when a similar poll was conducted, 51 percent said finding the best deal was their top priority and just 32 percent stressed the importance of “buying American.”

The survey, that took place between November 10th and 11th, was done on 1,000 people from across the nation. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The respondents were unsure though what American-made really means, 41 percent believing that buying a foreign brand car that is built in the US is the same as buying American vehicles, while another 42 percent believe the opposite. The majority of people still think the “Big Three” (Ford, GM and Chrysler) to be the only true American brands.