With the aim of helping the consumers to identify the top ten vehicles that are truly the most American regarding their parts, where they were produced and their popularity in the perception of U.S. customers, Cars.com has updated its American Made Index.
It is not anymore easy, in the present day global economy, to determine just how American a car is. For instance, several cars that are built in the US are assembled using parts which come from somewhere else like from different foreign countries. Some cars that are assembled in the U.S. from strictly American-made parts do not sell very well. This just means that only fewer Americans are building those models.
Cars.com Managing Editor, Patrick Olsen said that it is not a surprise that Toyota has now three vehicles that made the top 10, because of the manufacturer's large increase in the number of Toyota makes and models that are being built and sold in the US. Having said such statement, he concluded that he would not be surprised to see more foreign makes and models on the list in the near future.
The American-Made Index Cars.com features the cars that are built in the country, have the highest amount of domestic parts, and are bought in the largest numbers by Americans. To be considered for the list, cars must have a domestic-parts-content rating of 75 percent or more. To determine a car's domestic parts content, Cars.com uses the figure that appears alongside the window sticker of new cars. A car will be disqualified if it is going to be discontinued in the near future.
On the list, General Motors, maker of quality , has a total of four cars. Ford and Toyota each claimed three spots in the top ten.
Theautochannel, an automobile web site, was fortunate to see the list of The American Made Index.
Ford F-150 which is produced at the Claycomo, Mo.; Dearborn, Michigan that ranked number in Cars.com "Most American" cars last year remained strong this year taking once again the number one spot.
Toyota Camry not including the hybrid and Camry Solara manufactured at Georgetown, Ky. And Lafayette, Ind. ranked second last year and again for this year. GM's Chevrolet Silverado 1500 produced at Fort Wayne, Ind. and Pontiac, Mich took third place last year and occupies the same position this year. Another GM vehicle the Chevrolet Cobalt built at Lordstown, Ohio was consistent in 4th place both last year and for this year.
Another Ford vehicle has made the list, the Ford Focus produced at Wayne, Mich which didn't make cars.com's list last year. Toyota Sienna which was previously ranked 8th last year was up by two notches to 6th place. Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx from GM's Kansas City's assembly plant which was 6th last year was down one ranked to 7th. Pontiac G6 which was from the Orion, Mich. Assembly which was in the 9th place last year was up by 1 rank to 8th place. The Ford Escape from Claycomo, Mo. which was previously at the 10th place move up to the 9th place. Last but not the least the Toyota Tundra from Princeton, Ind. and San Antonio, Texas assembly plants which were not included last year took the 10th place this year.
For more info on the American Made Index log in at www.cars.com.
