Photo: Ford
A recent study based on automaker, dealership and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data reveals a worrying fact about cars we thought as being as American as good ol' apple pie or Clint Eastwood. Based on the amount of parts considered domestic under federal regulations, the study reveals that only 10 vehicles are made up of 75 percent or more components labeled "Made in USA."
The 2014 "American-Made Index" from Cars.com shows that the Ford F-150 is the most American car money can buy these days, while the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Dodge SRT Viper took the 7th and 10th spot of the 10-vehicle list. The way we see it, this is not something the American auto industry can boast about. Why? Because the rest of the list is made up of various Toyota and Honda models, that's why.
From 2nd to 6th we have the Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Tundra and Toyota Avalon, while 8th an 9th have been adjudicated by the Honda Ridgeline and the Honda Crosstour. Even though these vehicles are Japanese by brand origin, they're made up of more than 75 percent domestic components and are assembled in places like Indiana, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Ohio. Anyone can blame globalization and cost-cutting, but the fact is that aforementioned Japs have more American guts than the Dodge SRT Viper.
Compared to this year's 10-car list, the 2013 edition of the "American-Made Index" included 3 more nameplates, while 20 cars met the threshold in the 2012 model year and a whopping 30 vehicles the year before that. So how can we explain this rather shameful downfall in automotive parts built with pride in the U.S. of A.? Cost-cutting, my friend! That's the answer. Just look at what happened to General Motors because it wanted to save a few cents on every ignition switch fitted to million of vehicles involved in recall campaigns.
Nevertheless, that 75 percent threshold is a purely subjective thing. Think about it this way: would a Lincoln with 70 percent of its components made Stateside seem too un-American to you? We surely don't think so...
From 2nd to 6th we have the Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Toyota Tundra and Toyota Avalon, while 8th an 9th have been adjudicated by the Honda Ridgeline and the Honda Crosstour. Even though these vehicles are Japanese by brand origin, they're made up of more than 75 percent domestic components and are assembled in places like Indiana, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky and Ohio. Anyone can blame globalization and cost-cutting, but the fact is that aforementioned Japs have more American guts than the Dodge SRT Viper.
Compared to this year's 10-car list, the 2013 edition of the "American-Made Index" included 3 more nameplates, while 20 cars met the threshold in the 2012 model year and a whopping 30 vehicles the year before that. So how can we explain this rather shameful downfall in automotive parts built with pride in the U.S. of A.? Cost-cutting, my friend! That's the answer. Just look at what happened to General Motors because it wanted to save a few cents on every ignition switch fitted to million of vehicles involved in recall campaigns.
Nevertheless, that 75 percent threshold is a purely subjective thing. Think about it this way: would a Lincoln with 70 percent of its components made Stateside seem too un-American to you? We surely don't think so...
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