The Tesla Model Y Is More American Than A Ford F-150

When thinking about the most American vehicles, V8-powered icons like the Ford Mustang GT or Chevrolet Corvette come to mind, and so do trucks like the F-150 and Silverado. But according to the 2024 Cars.com American-Made Index, it’s none of these cars. That accolade belongs to the Tesla Model Y. How is an electric crossover in the number 1 spot? Well, let’s dive into how the results are tallied.

The study judges the top 100 vehicles based on five criteria: engine (or EV motor) origin, parts content, assembly location, transmission origins, and the US manufacturing workforce. The Index analyzed over 400 models to create a list of the top 100 vehicles.

Tesla Model Y Tops The Charts

At the top of that list is the Tesla Model Y. It is one of three Teslas in the top 10, with the Model S (4th) and the Model X (9th) occupying some of the best spots. Interestingly, there’s only one other American vehicle, and that’s the Jeep Gladiator (8th). The rest of the top 10 consists mainly of Japanese vehicles, including the Honda Passport (2nd) and the Lexus TX (10th). Interestingly, Honda has three vehicles in the top 10.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

Fans of American full-size trucks may be disappointed to learn that their beloved pickups are nowhere near as American as expected. The Ram 1500 Classic (19th) is the best-scoring vehicle in its segment, followed by the regular 1500 (43rd), F-150 Lightning (56th), F-150 Hybrid (75th), Silverado 1500 (89th), and Sierra 1500 (90th). Interestingly, the smaller pickups, such as the Colorado (23rd) and Canyon (24th), have scored better than their larger counterparts. It’s worth noting that neither the Ford Ranger nor the Maverick have made the list.

Certain Vehicles Were Disqualified – Here’s Why

If you’re wondering why the Ranger and many other vehicles aren’t on the list, there’s a good reason for this. Cars.com disqualified multiple 2024 vehicles from contention, including the BMW XM, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, Mercedes EQS SUV, Rivian R1S/R1T (which recently received a facelift), and several other vehicles for various reasons. Here are some of the reasons a vehicle could be disqualified:

• A gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8,500 lbs exempts vehicles from the requirements
• Automakers that build fewer than 1,000 vehicles in a model year are excluded
• A model is about to be discontinued in the United States
• Production of a specific vehicle is moving outside of the United States (with no locally built replacement)
• Made exclusively for government use or commercial fleets
• Models for which information cannot be verified
• Vehicles that do not meet sales or inventory thresholds

Related

Then And Now: 11 Of The Top American Luxury Cars Ever Made

American luxury has evolved a lot through the years, but these are some of the most significant models of the genre.

With the exception of 2020, when the Ford Ranger secured first place, Tesla has dominated the rankings for the last three years. In 2023, all four of its passenger vehicles were ranked from first to fourth place, which is remarkable. Interestingly, the Model 3 now occupies the 21st spot. This could be because Tesla sources the LFP battery from China for the entry-level RWD variant. General Motors makes the most vehicles in the United States, producing 16 cars and trucks locally. Toyota follows closely at 15, with Honda at 13 and Ford at 12 vehicle lines built in America, respectively. It is worth noting that Tesla assembles all its US-market vehicles in the United States.

Source:
Cars.com