The Index evaluates five key metrics: final assembly location, proportion of U.S. and Canadian parts, origin of the engine and transmission, and the number of U.S. manufacturing employees. Out of roughly 400 model‑year 2025 vehicles analyzed, 99 qualified this year.
The rise of EVs—not just hybrids—is remaking the landscape.
For the first time, a majority of the top 10 are electric vehicles, as Kia’s EV6 and Volkswagen’s ID.4 join the Tesla quartet. Tesla’s dominance reflects both its vertically integrated supply chain and full domestic assembly in California and Texas.
Despite Ford and GM placing no models in the top 10, they still have significant representation: 15 GM models and 13 Ford models made the list. . Honda has a strong showing too, with eight Honda/Acura vehicles in the top 20—and three in the top 10: Ridgeline (#7), Odyssey (#8), and Passport (#9). Jeep’s Gladiator lands at No. 5.
Yet the reality is complex: models like the Maverick and Bronco Sport are made in Mexico, and some GM models are imported.
Cars.com urges consumers to look beyond badges, as a brand’s origins do not necessarily determine where the car was built.
An average American‑built car now fetches $53,000, compared with $46,000 for Canadian‑assembled and $42,000 for Mexican-built models.
New 25 percent tariffs on vehicles and parts under the previous administration are fueling some of that divergence—Consumers say around 60–70 percent would pay a premium for American‑made vehicles to avoid those tariffs.
While EVs bring new economic and environmental promises, analysts caution: consumer financing has slowed, and rental‑fleet liquidations (like Hertz dumping EVs) reflect real-world market friction .
Since its debut in 2006, the Index has evolved from measuring sales and parts origin to today’s multi‑factor system introduced in 2017
While domestic-parts content in the top 10 has dropped from 83 percent in 2006 to 70 percent in 2025, this year’s increase marks a rebound after several years of decline.
Still, no one manufactures an entirely “American” car; global supply chains—ranging from electronics to metal alloys—are deeply interwoven.
Tesla’s electric dominance reflects its control over U.S. manufacturing. Volkswagen, Honda and Jeep also earn strong marks.All-American labels are increasingly misleading: parts, labor and assembly span many borders. Tariffs and consumer patriotism can shape buying—but cost and financing remain powerful constraints.
In the end, the Cars.com Index underscores that “American‑made” has become more about economic impact than mere geography. As companies and consumers grapple with shifting tariffs, supply chains and EV transitions, this nuanced gauge may matter more than ever.
The top 20 vehicles in the 2025 American‑Made Index are:
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Tesla Model Y
- Jeep Gladiator
- Kia EV6
- Honda Ridgeline
- Honda Odyssey
- Honda Passport
- Volkswagen ID.4
Notably absent from the top 10 are many full‑size trucks. Outside the top 20 sits the Ford F‑150 Lightning at #22, and the Silverado/Canyon sit further down—many built outside the U.S. or lower on domestic parts content.