If you want to buy an American car, you actually should buy a Japanese one according to a new study.
In today’s politically charged environment amidst increasing globalization and outsourcing, more Americans than ever are looking to buy American. Traditionally, this has meant purchasing a car from one of the big three American carmakers, but that might not actually be the best way to support local business any longer.
A new report from Bloomberg uses data from a Cars.com to analyze which carmaker’s vehicles are the most American based not only on where the vehicle was made but also on where the parts where sourced and where those cars are sold (since many GM and Ford vehicles might be made in America but are sold overseas).
Surprisingly, 9 out of the top 15 most US-sourced vehicles are actually made by Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota. Two-thirds of Honda’s vehicles are built in the United States using US-made parts, which is more than GM and Fiat Chrysler, while more than half of Toyota’s cars sold in the US are also American-made.
Of the top 10 US-made vehicles, 6 of them are Hondas including the Odyssey, Ridgeline, Passport, and Pilot as well as the Acura RDX and MDX. All of these vehicles are made at Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio and Lincoln, Alabama facilities.
However, the most American vehicle you can possibly purchase is the Jeep Cherokee built in Belvidere, Illinois. According to Cars.com’s analysis, the Cherokee uses the most American parts and labor of any vehicle sold in the US.
The Ford F-150, perhaps the most quintessential American vehicle the world has ever seen, is actually in 13th place on the list. While the F-150 is assembled in Dearborn, Michigan and Kansas City, Missouri, many of its parts are sourced from Mexico and other countries.
In fifth place is the Chevrolet Corvette, built in Bowling Green, Kentucky. That same facility will be used to produce the upcoming mid-engine Corvette, although it remains to be seen how many of the C8’s parts will be sourced in America.