Buying a vehicle from an American automaker no longer guarantees that your car is American-made. American automakers now have factories all over the world—while some foreign carmakers have factories in the US.
Even cars assembled in the US are not 100% American-made—many parts are imported. (The assembly of a vehicle accounts for only around 15% of the labor required for its production.)
People in the market for a truly American vehicle should consult the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s American Automobile Labeling Act Reports before buying. These reports list how much of the vehicle is made in North America (the US and Canada), though they don’t break down how much is made in the US and how much in Canada. On www.nhtsa.gov, click “Vehicle Safety,” then scroll down the page and select “Part 583 American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) Reports” under “Additional Resources.”
Examples: Vehicles from the 2012 model year that have the highest percentage of North American labor include Toyota Avalon (85%)…Chevy Express Van (82%)…GMC Savana Van (82%)…Chevy Impala (80%)…Honda Accord (80%)…Honda Crosstour (80%)…Ford Expedition (80%)…Lincoln Navigator (80%)…Toyota Sienna (80%)…Chrysler 200 convertible (79%)…Dodge Grand Caravan (79%)…and Chrysler Town & Country (77%).
