Celebrate Tesla this July 4th, the most American-made automaker

Recently, Cars.com released their American-Made Index (AMI) and there was one American-based automaker that outshined all others on the Top 10 list. The American-Made Index is now in its 15th year. And it turns out that Tesla was the only American OEM to have three cars included in this year's Top 10 List.

Image rendering: EVANNEX by Casey Murphy

"Since 2006, Cars.com’s American-Made Index has given shoppers interested in supporting the U.S. economy a list of the most American-made vehicles... Speaking of Tesla, this is the first year the California-based automaker has participated. Three Tesla vehicles — the Model S hatchback, Model 3 sedan and Model X SUV — rank in the top 10," writes Kelsey Mays of Cars.com.

Readers of this column are likely aware that Tesla is made in America with the vast majority of their production coming out of its Fremont factory in California (with batteries coming out of their Nevada-based Gigafactory).

Source: Cars.com; Note: In addition, Tesla has now ramped up production and deliveries of its Model Y in 2020 out of its Fremont factory

However, some are confused about the origins of Tesla. "Only half of all respondents know Tesla is American, and only about a third think the automaker builds the Model S in America," writes Mays.

Nevertheless, Cars.com notes that in the U.S., "more shoppers want to buy American." Based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. licensed drivers in May 2020, Cars.com asked if their desire to buy a vehicle assembled in the country had increased or decreased due to the pandemic. 37% percent said it increased; only 4% said it decreased. 

YouTube: Cars.com

Those buying a Tesla can feel proud they're buying American. AMI's 2020 index takes into account five key factors when evaluating: Location of final assembly; Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts; Country of origin for available engines; Country of origin for available transmissions; and U.S. manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint. Obviously (ahem)... internal combustion engines and transmissions aren't part of an all-electric Tesla.

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Source: Cars.com