All four Tesla models have made it to the top-ten list of Cars.com’s latest annual American-Made Index, meaning they are truly Made-in-America cars.
All four Tesla models have made it to the top-ten list of Cars.com’s latest annual American-Made Index, which ranks cars by how many of their components are made in America. Even though Tesla is the quintessential American automobile manufacturer, it is immensely popular around the globe, including in China, Europe, Australia and the Middle East. Teslas are especially popular in China, with the company producing 473,000-odd vehicles in the country last year. While the company exported about 160,000 of those to overseas markets, the rest were meant for customers in the country.
Tesla is the world’s largest EV manufacturer, ahead of Toyota, BYD, GM and Volkswagen. However, the company is facing increasing competition, and not just from traditional automakers either. While the likes of Toyota and Volkswagen are snapping at Tesla’s heels with their increasingly aggressive EV strategies, EV upstarts like Rivian and Lucid Motors have been launching new products to take on the market leader. Still, Tesla remains at the top globally and in the U.S., shipping nearly a million vehicles in 2021, with sales increasing every quarter.
The Tesla Model Y topped Cars.com’s 2022 American-Made Index, followed by the Model 3 in second place. These are followed by the Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid at number three and the Honda Passport SUV at number 4, with the Tesla Model X rounding out the top five. The remaining Tesla — the Model S — comes in at number six, followed by the Jeep Cherokee, Honda Ridgeline, Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot, in that order.
Teslas Dominate The American-Made Index
Cars.com says that the index is based on a slew of data, including the location of the final assembly. However, the report is also quick to point out that a car may have a significant import volume even though they’re assembled in the United States. That’s why the index also considers the percentage of U.S.-made components in the cars, as well as the countries of origin for the engines and transmissions. The data about where each part is manufactured comes from the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA). Finally, the list also takes into account the U.S. manufacturing workforce.
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Interestingly, the AALA combines the U.S. and Canadian parts content, making it impossible to distinguish between components made in these countries. However, to compensate for that, the index factors in engine and transmission origins “to more accurately identify two major cost-intensive components of each vehicle.” Overall, the list includes a high concentration of EVs and hybrid vehicles, and it’s not just Tesla that makes it to the top-ten list. According to Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman, it’s a trend that can continue if chip supply issues can be sorted out and gas prices remain high.
