Tesla's Model Y has been named the most American-made car for 2024 by Cars.com. This marks the third consecutive year that the Model Y has topped the automotive classified website's American-Made Index (AMI).
Tesla CEO Elon Musk views the new Tesla Model Y at its unveiling in Hawthorne, California on March 14, 2019.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
Cars.com Announces This Year's Most American-made Cars
Cars.com released its annual American-Made Index, which evaluates vehicles based on their parts sourcing, the location of final assembly, and other factors to determine their "American-made" status.
This year's 2024 AMI spotlighted the Model Y's dominance in the market and Tesla's manufacturing strategy that focuses on vertical integration and domestic production.
Thanks to its vertical integration approach, Tesla produces many of its parts in-house and manufactures its vehicles in North America, specifically in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas.
This strategy has consistently placed Tesla vehicles at the top of the AMI rankings. Last year, Tesla achieved a clean sweep of the top four positions with its Model Y, Model 3, Model X, and Model S.
However, this year, while the Model Y retained its top spot, Tesla lost its monopoly over the top four positions.
The 2024 AMI top positions are as follows:
Tesla Model Y (Fremont, Calif. and Austin, Texas)
Honda Passport (Lincoln, Ala.)
Volkswagen ID.4 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Tesla Model S (Fremont, Calif.)
Honda Odyssey (Lincoln, Ala.)
Honda Ridgeline (Lincoln, Ala.)
Toyota Camry (Georgetown, Ky.)
Jeep Gladiator (Toledo, Ohio)
Tesla Model X (Fremont, Calif.)
Lexus TX (Princeton, Ind.)
Despite this, Tesla still secured three spots in the top ten, a notable accomplishment, with the Model S and Model X joining the Model Y in the top tier.
Tesla Model 3's Decline
Notably, the Tesla Model 3, which had been a top-ten finisher in previous years and even held the number one spot in 2021, fell to 21st place this year.
According to Cars.com, this drop is attributed to "changes in workforce and domestic parts content." It is suggested that Tesla's increased use of Chinese batteries in the base versions of the Model 3 might have contributed to this decline.
Despite Tesla's strong showing, traditional American manufacturers like Ford and General Motors (GM) were notably absent from the top ten. The highest-ranked GM model was the Chevy Colorado at 23rd, and the top Ford model was the Lincoln Corsair at 29th.
However, it Is important to note that while Ford did not have any vehicles in the top ten, 72% of its vehicles sold in the US are made in America, trailing only Tesla. Additionally, six of the top ten vehicles are from foreign automakers
The report comes amidst ongoing discussions in Washington about tariffs on imported vehicles. Recently, President Joe Biden imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs, a move aimed at protecting domestic suppliers.
