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It turns out that not all American-based vehicle brands build all their models in the US, and you’ll also find foreign brands that manufacture in America. Untangle which car makers and specific models are made under our stars and stripes — mostly.
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.
Make
Brand headquarters
Percent content from North America in most popular models
Jeep*
USA
73%
Honda
Japan
69%
Acura
Japan
67%
Lincoln*
USA
61%
Toyota
Japan
58%
Ford
USA
57%
Ram*
USA
57%
Kia*
South Korea
55%
Chevrolet
USA
53%
Cadillac
USA
52%
Buick*
USA
50%
Tesla
USA
50%
GMC
USA
48%
Hyundai
South Korea
44%
Lexus*
Japan
35%
*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.
How do you find out those details?
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires brands to list their North American-made parts as a percentage, without differentiating between parts made in the US versus Canada. The countries and percentages of parts made there are listed in the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) Reports.
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:
Where most of the parts are manufactured
The country that assembles the vehicle before sale
Where the engine is built
Where the transmission is made
You can find at least 50 vehicle models made mostly under America’s stars and stripes and Canada’s maple leaf.
Makes
Models
Percent of content from the US and Canada
Country of final assembly
Where the engine is built
Where the transmission is made
Honda
Odyssey
75%
US
US
US
Honda
Ridgeline
75%
US
US
US
Honda
Ridgeline FWD
75%
US
US
US
Jeep
Wrangler JK, JK Unlimited
74%
US
US (3.6L)
US (Automatic)
Jeep
Wrangler JK Unlimited
73%
US
US (3.6L)
US (Automatic)
Jeep
Cherokee
72%
US
US
US
Acura
MDX
70%
US
US
US
Acura
MDX 2WD
70%
US
US
US
Acura
TLX
65-70%
US
US
US
Honda
Pilot
70%
US
US
US
Honda
Pilot
70%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Corvette
67%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Volt
66%
US
US
US
Ford
F150
65%
US
US (2.7 DOHC, 3.0DSL, 3.3 TIVCT, 5.0 DOHC)
US
Lincoln
Continental
65%
US
US
US
Acura
RDX
65%
US
US
US
Acura
RDX FWD
65%
US
US
US
Acura
TLX
65%
US
US
US
Acura
TLX FWD A-Spec
65%
US
US
US
Honda
CR-V
65%
US
US
US
Honda
CR-V 2WD
65%
US
US
US
Honda
CR-V 4WD
65%
US
US
US
Honda
CR-V 4WD
65%
US
US
US
Toyota
Avalon
65%
US
US
US
Ford
Taurus
61%
US
US
US
Lincoln
MKC
61%
US
US (2.3 T/C)
US
Honda
Accord
60%
US
US
US
Honda
Accord 2.0T Sport Touring
60%
US
US
US
Honda
Civic
60%
US
US
US
Hyundai
Santa Fe Sport
60%
US
US
US
Toyota
Highlander
60%
US
US
US
Toyota
Sequoia
60%
US
US
US
Toyota
Tacoma
60%
US
US
US
Ram
1500
57%
US
US (3.6L)
US (Auto 8HP70, RWD & AWD)
Ford
Explorer
57%
US
US
US
Cadillac
ATS
57%
US
US
US
Cadillac
CTS
57%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Camaro
57%
US
US
US
GMC
Acadia
57%
US
US
US
Ford
Mustang
56%
US
US (3.0 T/C)
US
Kia
Sorento
55%
US
US
US
Tesla
Model S
55%
US
US
US
Toyota
Camry
55%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Impala
54%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Colorado
51%
US
US
US
GMC
Canyon
51%
US
US
US
Buick
LaCrosse
50%
US
US
US
Chevrolet
Malibu
50%
US
US, Mexico
US
Tesla
Model 3 & Model 3 Long Range
45-50%
US
US
US
Tesla
Model X
50%
US
US
US
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
Driver assistance technology to keep you safer on the roads.
Durability to ensure you stay on the road and out of the repair shop.
Gas mileage or electric range to save on fuel costs.
Safety ratings from the NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Space for extra seating, cargo or leg room.
Pros and cons of buying American vehicles
Pros
You’ll support US manufacturing
The ticket price won’t be inflated by extra shipping costs
You’ll save on repairs because of availability for domestic parts
More luxury features for the value than foreign-made cars
You can find extras not offered by many foreign brands, like rebates
Cons
You’ll limit your choices
Reliability can be hit or miss, depending on the model
The cheapest models may not be American
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.
Compare car insurance for American made cars
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
Charles and Frank Duryea made the first successful gas-powered car in America in 1893.
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.
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.
Sarah George is a personal finance writer at Finder who’s spent the last four years wielding her digital pen 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.
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