10 most American cars of 2021 will blow your mind
American cars have always been different from everyone else – and they naturally have both ardent fans and detractors. However, nowadays it is quite difficult to guess which cars are actually American. Legends like the Dodge Challenger or Chevy Silverado are made in Canada or Mexico, most of the Buick lineup comes from China. At the same time, Honda models come from Ohio and Alabama – not only as final assembly, but also as the source of most components.
All major Mercedes crossovers are built at the Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, including the top-of-the-line GLS Maybach.
Since the 1990s, US law has required all vehicles sold in the country to include information about the origin of parts and place of manufacture in their unique body number. Looking at current data, we found, for example, that the new Mercedes-Benz GLE has nearly three times as many American parts as the Ford Fusion and 17 times as many as the Buick Encore. In the iconic Ford GT supercar, only 20% of the parts are American and Canadian, and in the new BMW X5 – as much as 35% (as in German). The Tesla Model 3 has only 45% components from the US and Canada.
10 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350
The most American German SUV is produced at Daimler's plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, along with the larger GLS. However, the percentage of components of American or Canadian origin varies depending on the modification. For the petrol GLE 350, this percentage reaches a record 69%, because the engine is made in North America, and most of the transmission comes from Germany. In other versions, especially diesel ones, the percentage of European components is higher. However, even they are much more “American” than cars like the Jeep Wrangler or the Ford Expedition.
Production: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: Germany
US and Canadian components: 69%
9 Chrysler 300
Thanks to decades of free trade between the US and Canada, US law does not differentiate between US and Canadian components or this sedan would not have made it into the rankings. It's made in Canada, its rear suspension is from Mercedes, and in the fancier version with the 5.7-liter V8 engine, it's from Mexico. But the V6 variants have American engines.
Production: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Engine origin: Mexico or USA.
Transmission origin: United States
US and Canadian components: 69%
8 Honda Odyssey.
In some ways, Honda is more American than Japanese. Its North American division, based in Torrance, California, has 12 different plants in the United States, scattered from Alabama to Ohio and Georgia to Indiana.
The Odyssey, for example, is made in Lincoln, Alabama. That's where the V6 engine came from. The 10-speed automatic transmission is manufactured at the Talapooza, Georgia plant.
Manufactured: Lincoln, Alabama, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: USA
US and Canadian components: 70%
7 Honda Ridgeline
True American patriots from the interior of the country favor the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado or Ram 1500. But the facts are indisputable: the most American pickup is actually … Honda Ridgeline.
Manufactured: Lincoln, Alabama, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: USA
US and Canadian components: 70%
6 Mercedes C-Class C300
And here it all comes down to versions. For example, hybrid variants or AMG models contain 0% American content. But the C300 sedan reaches 70%, and only 16% of the components come from Germany. A two-liter petrol engine is also produced by the state.
Production: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: Germany
US and Canadian components: 70%
5 Honda Pilot The
Pilot is built in the same factory as the Ridgeline and Odyssey and uses the same engines and transmissions. In the seven-seater segment, the Pilot is the most “American” – the Toyota Highlander has North American components at 55%, while the Hyundai Palisade has just 5%.
Manufactured: Lincoln, Alabama, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: USA
US and Canadian components: 70%
4 Dodge Chargers.
And the Charger, like the other Dodge Challenger icon, has long been made not in the US, but in Canada. But it has 4% more components from North America than its counterpart. Although both the six-cylinder and V8 engines are actually made in Saltijo, Mexico. 17% of the components are Mexican, and the gearbox is from Germany.
Production: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Origin of the engine: Mexico.
Transmission origin: Germany
US and Canadian components: 70%
3 Jeep Cherokee
Wrangler – an emblem of American automotive character and national pride since World War II – is currently made up of only 61% components from the United States and Canada. The Cherokee fares better, largely because the main engines are made in Michigan.
Manufactured: Belvidier, Illinois, USA
Engine Origin: USA
Transmission Origin: USA
US & Canadian Components: 71%
2 Chevrolet Corvette
Forty years ago, GM bought an old Chrysler air conditioning unit and turned it into the new home of the Corvette. It has consistently produced the Corvette Stingray since 1981, as well as its iconic V8 engine and transmission.
Manufactured: Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA
Engine origin: USA
Transmission origin: USA
US and Canadian components: 72%
1 Ford Mustang
Even the F-150 has more than a third of its components already of external origin. But the Mustang continues to be at the forefront: it is still made in Michigan, and the percentage of American units in it has even increased slightly over the past year. The new 2.3-liter Ecoboost is made in Brook Park, Ohio, while the monstrous 760-horsepower V8 from the GT500 version is made in Romio, Michigan.
Manufactured: Flat Rock, Michigan, USA
Engine Origin: USA
Transmission Origin: USA
US & Canadian Components: 77%