The 2025 American-Made Index (AMI) by Cars.com shows electric vehicles gaining ground, with battery-powered models claiming six of the top 10 spots.

The ranking evaluates vehicles based on assembly location, parts content from the US and Canada, and the origin of engines and transmissions.

Among the top-ranked EVs, the Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4 secured the sixth and tenth positions, respectively.

The Kia EV6, built in Georgia, features 80% US and Canadian parts — the highest percentage among all vehicles sold in the country.

Tesla dominated the list, securing the top four positions, with the Model 3 recognized as the most “American-made” vehicle.

In total, 11 electric vehicles made it onto the 2025 list, up from eight last year, including models like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV9 SUV.

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🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ A dramatic shift in “American-made” leadership over the past decade

The 2025 American-Made Index represents a profound transformation from just five years ago when the landscape looked completely different.

In 2019, the Toyota Camry topped the index with 75% of its parts sourced from the U.S. or Canada, while Tesla wasn’t even in the top 10 1.

This shift reflects Tesla’s strategic commitment to domestic manufacturing, which dates back to 2017 when it was noted as the only automaker assembling 100% of its U.S.-sold vehicles domestically 2.

The rise of EVs in the rankings challenges traditional assumptions about American manufacturing, which historically centered on Detroit’s Big Three automakers rather than newer EV specialists or foreign brands producing in America.

Despite the high rankings, it’s worth noting that even today’s most “American-made” vehicles still source roughly a quarter of their components internationally, with the index showing no vehicle reaches 100% domestic content 3.

2️⃣ Foreign brands increasingly dominate American automotive manufacturing

Kia’s impressive showing with the EV6 having 80% U.S./Canadian parts content exemplifies a larger trend of international automakers establishing significant manufacturing operations within the United States.

The 2025 index reveals that foreign automakers account for a substantial 66% of vehicles ranked as “American-made,” demonstrating how international brands have localized production to serve the U.S. market 3.

This represents a consistent pattern over time, as research shows that back in 2019, approximately 65% of vehicles sold in the U.S. were already being produced domestically, many by international companies with American factories 1.

The geographic distribution of automotive manufacturing has also shifted, with 51% of vehicles on the index now built outside traditional automotive manufacturing centers, particularly in southern states where many foreign automakers have established plants 4.

This manufacturing shift has significant implications for labor, as the index shows that only 39% of the vehicles ranked were built by union labor, highlighting how foreign manufacturers have generally established non-unionized facilities 3.

3️⃣ Policy uncertainty threatens the electric momentum

The question posed at the end of the article about tariffs and tax credits is well-founded, as experts predict significant consequences if these changes materialize.

Analysts warn that implementing a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and components would substantially increase consumer prices, potentially stalling the growing momentum in EV sales 5.

The potential elimination of the $7,500 EV tax credit mentioned in the article would compound these challenges, with industry experts predicting it would significantly hinder sales momentum for electric vehicles that currently benefit from these incentives 5.

These policy uncertainties create a challenging environment for the automotive supply chain, where many components cross borders multiple times during production, making even “American-made” vehicles vulnerable to tariff impacts 5.

The future growth of EVs in American manufacturing rankings thus depends not just on consumer demand but also on whether policymakers provide the stability needed for manufacturers to continue investing in domestic EV production.

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