For over a century, Ford and GM have been synonymous with American industrial might. Their trucks and cars—particularly models like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado—have long symbolized heartland grit, blue-collar pride, and a commitment to U.S. manufacturing. Alongside Chrysler (now part of Stellantis), these “Detroit Big Three” have defined American auto manufacturing in both scale and spirit.
Detroit, bolstered by billions in recent investments targeting electric and autonomous vehicles, continues to be seen as the symbolic and strategic heart of America’s automotive future. But a new report raises troubling questions about whether the nation’s most iconic automakers are still as “American-made” as many assume.
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A New Ranking Disrupts Old Assumptions
The 2025 American-Made Index from Cars.com, now in its 20th year, ranks vehicles based on multiple domestic production criteria: U.S. factory jobs, location of final assembly, and the percentage of American and Canadian parts, including engines and transmissions. This year’s results present a stark and surprising reality.
Despite their storied heritage, Ford and GM are virtually absent from the top rankings. General Motors placed just one vehicle—the Chevrolet Colorado, at number 19—while Ford failed to appear in the top 20 altogether. In contrast, Tesla dominated, claiming several top spots including number one for the Tesla Model 3. Even Stellantis placed two vehicles—the Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler—thanks to their Ohio-based production.
Foreign automakers with U.S. production facilities also outperformed Detroit’s legacy brands. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Kia all had multiple entries, demonstrating that American assembly lines do not guarantee an “American-made” designation by today’s standards.
A Political Flashpoint
The rankings arrive amid heightened political scrutiny. President Donald J. Trump recently reignited a trade war, imposing a 25% tariff on imported vehicles as part of his administration’s aggressive “America First” trade agenda. Yet, paradoxically, the most “American-made” vehicles according to Cars.com are being built by non-traditional U.S. manufacturers—both domestic newcomers like Tesla and foreign brands with strong domestic footprints.
This disconnect between rhetoric and reality places legacy automakers in an awkward position. Despite their deep roots and large-scale domestic employment, their actual products no longer top the list in American content.
Corporate Responses and Defense
When approached for comment by Gizmodo, Ford and GM declined to directly address their rankings, instead emphasizing their economic contributions.
“We’ve added approximately 13,000 jobs in the U.S. since 2008,” a Ford spokesperson stated. “80% of the vehicles we sell in the U.S. are assembled here, and we employ more hourly autoworkers than any other automaker in America.”
GM echoed a similar sentiment, pointing to its recent $4 billion investment in domestic plants:
“We’re committed to U.S. manufacturing and are expanding our production footprint,” a GM spokesperson said.
Indeed, both companies remain major employers: as of the end of 2024, GM had 90,000 U.S. employees—56% of its global workforce—while Ford employed nearly 89,000, or 52%. GM also retains the largest U.S. market share among automakers.
A More Complicated Definition of “American-Made”
However, Cars.com emphasizes that American assembly is just one piece of the puzzle. The index also weighs the origin of key components, including engines and transmissions, and the percentage of domestic parts content.
In other words, assembling a car in the U.S. doesn’t automatically make it American-made under these criteria. Many models are manufactured in multiple countries, or use globally sourced parts that dilute their domestic value.
A Brand Identity at Risk
For companies that have spent generations building a brand around American values, this year’s ranking is more than a PR issue—it’s an identity crisis. Consumers who equate Ford and GM with patriotism and domestic manufacturing might be surprised to learn that the vehicles carrying those nameplates aren’t necessarily the most American ones on the lot.
In today’s globalized auto industry, the label “American-made” is no longer as clear-cut as it once was. And for Ford and GM, the challenge now is not just staying competitive—it’s staying connected to the national identity they helped define.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a vehicle to be “American-made”?
“American-made” typically refers to vehicles that are assembled in the U.S. and contain a high percentage of domestically sourced parts, including the engine, transmission, and components. The Cars.com American-Made Index evaluates factors like U.S. manufacturing jobs supported, parts origin, and factory location to determine how “American” a vehicle truly is.
2. Are Ford and GM still based in the United States?
Yes. Ford is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, and General Motors (GM) is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Both companies remain American-owned and are among the largest private employers in the U.S.
3. Why didn’t Ford or GM rank high in the 2025 American-Made Index?
The American-Made Index goes beyond final assembly. It examines where key components come from and how much of the vehicle’s content is sourced from the U.S. and Canada. While Ford and GM still assemble many vehicles in America, several of their models rely on globally sourced parts, lowering their rankings.
4. Which automakers ranked highest in the 2025 index?
Tesla dominated the 2025 rankings, with every model except the Cybertruck appearing in the top 20. Foreign automakers with strong U.S. operations—such as Honda, Toyota, Kia, and Nissan—also earned top spots. Only one GM vehicle made the list: the Chevrolet Colorado at #19. Ford had no entries in the top 20.
6. If a Ford or Chevy is built in the U.S., why isn’t it considered fully American-made?
Even if a vehicle is assembled in the U.S., it may use engines, transmissions, or components made abroad. The Cars.com index accounts for these sourcing details, meaning a vehicle can be “assembled in America” but still rank low in total domestic content.
7. Is this ranking politically significant?
Yes. The index was released shortly after a renewed push by the U.S. government for domestic manufacturing, including new tariffs on imported vehicles. The perception that foreign brands outperform Ford and GM in “American-ness” complicates political and marketing narratives about U.S. manufacturing leadership.
8. Does this mean Tesla is the most American car brand now?
In terms of the American-Made Index metrics, yes. Tesla not only assembles all its vehicles in the U.S. but also sources a large portion of parts domestically, giving it a strong claim to being the “most American” major automaker by production footprint.
Conclusion
Ford and General Motors remain pillars of American industry—employing tens of thousands of U.S. workers, investing billions in domestic manufacturing, and shaping the nation’s automotive legacy. However, in an increasingly globalized supply chain, the definition of “American-made” is evolving.
The latest data from the Cars.com American-Made Index highlights a shift that’s both symbolic and practical: being headquartered in Detroit and assembling vehicles on U.S. soil is no longer enough to claim the mantle of American manufacturing leadership. In this new landscape, companies like Tesla and even foreign automakers with strong domestic operations are outperforming the traditional giants in the metrics that define American production today.