December 16, 2024 – Tesla has defeated traditional American automotive giants Ford and General Motors to emerge as the champion of “Most American-Made” cars. According to the latest rankings released by the Kogod School of Business at American University, Tesla’s performance on the “Made in America” index is far ahead of its competitors.
The Kogod School’s research evaluated the proportion of components sourced from the United States and Canada in American-produced cars. Under the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA), car manufacturers are required to report the percentage of North American parts used, although the act does not distinguish between US and Canadian sources.
Remarkably, the Tesla Model 3 Performance topped the list with 87.5% of its components sourced locally. It was followed closely by the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Standard Range versions, both with 85% local parts. Tesla’s electric pickup, the Cybertruck, ranked third with 82.5%, while the Model S and Model X tied for fourth place with 80%.
Among traditional automakers, the Ford Mustang GT and GT Premium matched the 80% score of Tesla’s Model S and Model X. The Honda Passport AWD and Passport Trailsport came in fifth with 76.5%. The patriotic Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Sahara trailed closely with 76%. Other models such as the Volkswagen ID.4 AWD, GMC Canyon AT4 Crew Cab, and three Chevrolet Colorado variants also made the list with 75.5%.
Despite Tesla’s impressive showing, its “Made in America” credentials are not without flaws. Study author Frank DuBois pointed out that Tesla still relies heavily on Chinese components. For instance, excluding motors and batteries, the Model 3 Long Range version, which ranked second, has 40% of its parts sourced from China. The Cybertruck, on the other hand, has a 20% Chinese component ratio, primarily consisting of seats, dashboards, and other parts.
