What cars are made in America?

Which cars are made in the USA?

While several automakers got their start making cars in America, you won’t find any vehicles on the market that are 100% American-made. Today, manufacturers outsource their car production. So brands with American origins now make their cars in other countries, and foreign brands outsource some production in America.

*Brands with only one model primarily made in North America

What makes a vehicle American-made?

Finding cars made in America depends on your interpretation of the term American-made. You can look for:

• Auto manufacturers that started in America.
• Makes that have US headquarters.
• Cars produced mostly in North America, which includes the US and Canada.

For example, Ford Motor Company has rooted its car-making history in America. While several Ford vehicles still have 40-50% of their parts made in North America, the Ford Fusion only includes 26% North American-made parts.

Who is most likely to be researching which cars are made in the US?

Finder data suggests that men aged 35-44 are most likely to be researching this topic.

List of the top 50 American-made cars

To find the most red-blooded American-made vehicles, we looked at models with the most parts produced in North America as well as the final assembly. We ranked the cars based on these factors:

You can find at least 50 vehicle models made mostly under America’s stars and stripes and Canada’s maple leaf.

How can I finance an American-made vehicle?

You don’t have any limits on financing a car that’s made in America. To find the best deal, you can take two different routes:

• Compare standard car loans, their APRs and contract terms through a traditional lender or bank. As a starting point, the average interest rate is 7%.
• You can compare financing deals from different manufacturers if you’re not sure which car you want. For example, Honda has offered past financing deals with a 1.9% APR on specific models.

How to buy American vehicles in 4 steps

If buying American is a priority, find out whether your preferred make and model is made in the US before you buy:

1. Research your preferred cars. You might start by looking at features that are most important to you, such as the vehicle’s body type, safety features or a list of American-made cars or brands.
2. Look up where your preferred model is made. Once you’ve found a few potential models, use the NHTSA’s American Automobile Labeling Act Reports to verify how much of any vehicle comes from North America. The reports include models from 2007 to the present.
3. Find out your financing options. Shop around to see the interest rates and loan offers you can get on your chosen car, rather than simply accepting the dealership’s offer. This helps you choose the loan that works best for you, and it can help you negotiate dealership offers too.
4. Find the perfect ride. You could head to the nearest dealership, or you might search online to find cars for sale and highly rated dealerships near you.

What other factors should I consider when buying a vehicle?

You can choose the right car based on many characteristics like:

Pros and cons of buying American vehicles

Does my car’s country of origin affect my insurance?

Yes, where your vehicle is made can affect your insurance rates, especially if parts are difficult to find in the US. The country of origin also may affect the car’s sale price because of trade laws and shipping costs, and a higher sale price leads to higher car insurance rates.

Does my car’s manufacturer affect my insurance?

Factors about your vehicle’s make also affect insurance, such as if the brand makes high-dollar luxury or performance cars or if the manufacturer’s cars tend to see high safety ratings. Why these factors make a difference:

• High sale price means that your insurance company will pay more to replace your car if it gets totaled in an accident.
• High-performance engine could tempt drivers to risky driving on the roads.
• High safety ratings mean that the vehicle keeps you and your passengers safer during an accident, leading to fewer injuries.

Bottom line

Now that you know the ins and outs of where vehicles originate, research the right car model based on your priorities. Then, you can save money on financing your new ride by looking at all your car loan options before heading to the dealership.

Common questions about cars made in America

• When was the first car made in America?

  Charles and Frank Duryea made the first successful gas-powered car in America in 1893.

• How many Ford vehicles are made in America?

  You’ll find five Ford car models in the top 50 American-made cars, including the F150, Taurus, Explorer, Mustang and the Focus. The Ford F150 ranks in the top 10 American-made cars.

• Aren't Tesla cars made mostly in America?

  2020 Tesla models typically source about 50% of their parts from the US and Canada. For example, the Model 3 Mid Range makes 50% of its parts in North America and 25% in Mexico, according to AALA Reports.

Written by

Sarah George

Writer

Sarah George is Staff Writer for Small Business Loans at BankRate and formally a personal finance writer at Finder focusing on all things banking and insurance. Her know-how has been featured in such publications as CBS, CNET and Reviews.com, and she was a panelist in Finder’s 2020 money-saving webinar. Sarah earned an English education degree and is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 26 Finder guides across topics including:

• Car, motorcycle, home and life insurance
• Insurance for specific car models
• Analysis of industry reports
• Insurance policy comparison