Recently, the automotive website Cars.com released the 2025 “Made in America Index” (AMI) list, which ranks cars based on the degree of localized manufacturing in the United States, and measures the contribution of vehicles to the U.S. economy based on the proportion of U.S. and Canadian parts contained in the vehicle, the final assembly location, the origin of the engine and transmission, and the proportion of U.S. workers employed.
In this year’s list,Electric vehicleFor the first time, it occupies six of the top 10 seats, with four Tesla models (Model Y, Model 3, Model S and Model X) occupying the top four on the list.
Image source: Cars.com
Since Tesla first participated in the “Made in America Index” in 2020, its models have always been in the top 10 on the list. This year, Tesla’s four light passenger cars once again swept the top four (the first time was in 2023), of which the Tesla Model 3 jumped the most from last year – the model was still at the back of Tesla’s internal ranking last year. Tesla’s success stems not only from the high proportion of components from the United States and Canada and core components assembled in the United States, but also from its large local automobile manufacturing team.
In addition to Tesla, the Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4 are also in the top 10, ranking 6th and 10th respectively. Although the EV6 has the highest share of U.S. components (about 80%) on the entire list, it is slightly inferior in other evaluation dimensions, so it falls short of the top five overall. With the transfer of Kia EV6 models from South Korea to the West Point plant in Georgia, USA, the EV6 not only injects fresh blood into the list, but also marks the first time that pure electric models occupy the majority of the top 10. The number of pure electric vehicles on the list in 2025 will increase from 8 in 2024 to 11, and there will be 19 hybrid/plug-in hybrid models (a significant increase from the total of 15 models in 2024), which confirms the automotive industryelectrificationTransformation is not just empty talk.
Although it remains to be seen whether this momentum can continue under the pressure of the removal of the US federal electric vehicle tax credit and rising terminal prices, the US manufacturing index continues to show that the process of diversifying powertrains is steadily advancing year by year.
In recent years, Honda has been at the top of the list, and 2025 will be no exception. Since 2017, Honda’s Ridgeline pickup and Odyssey MPVs produced in Alabama have been in the top 10, and the Passport SUV has also performed steadily since its entry into the list in 2019 – Honda models continue to occupy the top position on the list due to its long-term high proportion of U.S.-made parts and U.S. local assembly advantages. In addition, the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck produced at the Toledo, Ohio plant, and the Volkswagen ID.4 pure electric SUV assembled at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant have also returned to the top 10 camps on the list.
Of the 99 models on the list Cars.com this year, 67 are manufactured by international car brands. General Motors has the most models on the list, with a total of 15, followed by Toyota (14), Ford and Honda (13 each).
Of Detroit’s three major automakers, only three models made it into the top 20: Jeep Gladiator (5th), Jeep Wrangler and Chevrolet Colorado.
Patrick Masterson, chief researcher of the American Manufacturing Index, said, “You can’t judge whether a car is ‘made in the USA’ based on the car logo alone, and the factors involved in the vehicle manufacturing process are very complex.” ”
In addition, 17 models on the list are made in Alabama, which ranks first among states, reflecting the growth momentum of the automobile manufacturing industry in the southern United States.
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid became the model with the largest annual jump, soaring from 66th in 2024 to 18th, ranking first in the list year-on-year. Masterson pointed out that the model has now achieved 100% procurement of transmissions in the United States.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Edition suffered the biggest ranking slide, plummeting from 65th place in 2024 to 99th place, the highest decline in the entire list.
The index is evaluated for 2025 models produced in the United States, Cars.com analyzed a total of 173,000 vehicles in its inventory, completed 450 dealer site inspections, and comprehensively referenced data from federal regulators, automakers and U.S. Automotive News.
Of the 400 lightweight models sold (or planned to sell) by automakers in the U.S. market, 133 are made in the U.S., 248 are imported, and 19 are a mix of U.S. and overseas assembly.
Masterson said, “The list raises awareness and lets consumers know that there are many models made ‘at their doorstep’, and most car buyers still lack enough understanding of car localization.” ”
The timing of this list is critical. At present, the domestic electric vehicle industry in the United States is at a crossroads of policy adjustments, and the Trump administration has decided to officially cancel the electric vehicle tax credit on September 30. At the same time, in the face of lower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles, many car companies are also adjusting their electrification strategies, extending the life cycle of fuel vehicles, and reducing electric vehicle sales targets.
Still, since 2022, the number of electric vehicles entering the US Made Index has almost doubled. Masterson noted that this year is the first time that electric vehicles have occupied a majority of the top 10 seats on the list.
The list also reflects a slow process, despite the Trump administration’s unpredictable tariff policies and discussions about supply chain shifts and localization.