These 15 Foreign Cars Are Way More 'American'

[mettech]

Car shoppers who want to support American manufacturing shouldn't dismiss the idea of buying a Toyota or Honda.

According to new rankings from American University's Kogod School of Business, some Japanese cars are more "made in America" than offerings from Ford and Chevy.

The rankings consider data including where an automaker is headquartered and where it assembles its vehicles, produces parts, and conducts research and development.

The Kogod rankings also evaluated the final destination of an automaker's profits. The report argues "the true impact of these (design and manufacturing) activities (by foreign automakers) on the U.S economy is reduced by the repatriation of profits back to the automaker's home country." Everything that's done in the U.S. earns points, scored out of 100.

The results may change how consumers think about the meaning of "made in America."

It's hardly shocking that Ford's F-Series and Chevrolet's Corvette finished at the top of the rankings as the most American cars you can buy, with a total domestic content score of 87.5 out of 100.

But not far behind are Honda's Odyssey, Ridgeline and Crosstour, and Toyota's Camry and Tundra, which all scored a 78.5. That makes them more "American" than cars like the SRT Viper (77.5), Tesla Model S (77.5), Ford Expedition (71), Chevrolet Silverado (70), Dodge Grand Caravan (69), and Chevrolet Camaro (68).

The presence of Honda and Toyota's near the top of the domestic content rankings should not come as a too much of surprise. Both automakers have invested heavily in their US manufacturing, design and development facilities.

Honda has invested more than $14 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the last couple of decades. In 2012, it produced 1.2 million cars at plants in Indiana, Ohio, and Alabama. It also operates a network of component production facilities along with multiple design centers.

 

Toyota's U.S. design and manufacturing operations are extensive as well. It operates major assembly plants in Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, and Indiana, and maintains a network of engine and transmission production facilities in Alabama, Indiana, and West Virginia. Its California-based design studio, Calty Design Research, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

According to Kogod, these are the 15 "most American" foreign branded cars on sale today: (Score out of 100)

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/rolls-royce-bentley-want-electric-car-game-162215033.html

[RichardJensen]

The Expy's score makes no sense to me.

[jasonj80]

The Expy's score makes no sense to me.

5.4L is built in Canada

Edited April 13, 2014 by jasonj80

[RichardJensen]

So the motor's assembly plant counts for 16.5 thingies?

 

Still confused.

[jasonj80]

So the motor's assembly plant counts for 16.5 thingies?

 

Still confused.

Well the F-150 was 87.5 so I'm guessing the engine would be 5 thingies. I have no idea though just a wild guess.

[RichardJensen]

Ah. I think I've figured it out.

 

It's a publicity stunt for uh, what was the name of the university again? Those folks.

[Kev-Mo]

Ichiro Suzuki plays baseball in the U.S. That does not make him an American ball player. He is simply a Japanese athlete playing in the USA. Toyota and Honda are not American and never will be. They are simply Japanese car companies operating in the USA. I wish the press would stop making them out to be the good guys.

 

My personal example: I worked many years for a USA based software giant. We had European operations right in the backyard of our biggest competitor (Germany). We were not there to be good neighbors. We were there to take market share from the competition right in their own backyard and stick it right back in their face. Our leadership was very clear why we were there and never asked anyone to think of him as the friendly neighbor. Why would a Toyota or Honda example be any different?

[bdegrand]

Ichiro Suzuki plays baseball in the U.S. That does not make him an American ball player. He is simply a Japanese athlete playing in the USA. Toyota and Honda are not American and never will be. They are simply Japanese car companies operating in the USA. I wish the press would stop making them out to be the good guys.

 

My personal example: I worked many years for a USA based software giant. We had European operations right in the backyard of our biggest competitor (Germany). We were not there to be good neighbors. We were there to take market share from the competition right in their own backyard and stick it right back in their face. Our leadership was very clear why we were there and never asked anyone to think of him as the friendly neighbor. Why would a Toyota or Honda example be any different?

Bravo to you for the real truth the press always seems to leave out. Don't forget all the tax abatement these foreign companies get from the states fighting each other to get the business. I just moved to Iowa and live in a small condo sub that is stacked full of new Honda's and Toyota's.These "true patriots" came pounding on my door to have me join them with waving the American flag for Memorial Day to remember our freedom. I was shocked....they drive new expensive Asian cars from a country that tried to destroy us and they have the audacity to demonstrate their thanks to all the fallen soldiers this way? Shameful . Like Clint Eastwood said : "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

[Fgts]

Bravo to you for the real truth the press always seems to leave out. Don't forget all the tax abatement these foreign companies get from the states fighting each other to get the business. I just moved to Iowa and live in a small condo sub that is stacked full of new Honda's and Toyota's.These "true patriots" came pounding on my door to have me join them with waving the American flag for Memorial Day to remember our freedom. I was shocked....they drive new expensive Asian cars from a country that tried to destroy us and they have the audacity to demonstrate their thanks to all the fallen soldiers this way? Shameful . Like Clint Eastwood said : "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

Or worse American flags and memorial stickers on Japan junk owned by service members.

[bdegrand]

Car shoppers who want to support American manufacturing shouldn't dismiss the idea of buying a Toyota or Honda.

According to new rankings from American University's Kogod School of Business, some Japanese cars are more "made in America" than offerings from Ford and Chevy.

The rankings consider data including where an automaker is headquartered and where it assembles its vehicles, produces parts, and conducts research and development.

The Kogod rankings also evaluated the final destination of an automaker's profits. The report argues "the true impact of these (design and manufacturing) activities (by foreign automakers) on the U.S economy is reduced by the repatriation of profits back to the automaker's home country." Everything that's done in the U.S. earns points, scored out of 100.

The results may change how consumers think about the meaning of "made in America."

It's hardly shocking that Ford's F-Series and Chevrolet's Corvette finished at the top of the rankings as the most American cars you can buy, with a total domestic content score of 87.5 out of 100.

But not far behind are Honda's Odyssey, Ridgeline and Crosstour, and Toyota's Camry and Tundra, which all scored a 78.5. That makes them more "American" than cars like the SRT Viper (77.5), Tesla Model S (77.5), Ford Expedition (71), Chevrolet Silverado (70), Dodge Grand Caravan (69), and Chevrolet Camaro (68).

The presence of Honda and Toyota's near the top of the domestic content rankings should not come as a too much of surprise. Both automakers have invested heavily in their US manufacturing, design and development facilities.

Honda has invested more than $14 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the last couple of decades. In 2012, it produced 1.2 million cars at plants in Indiana, Ohio, and Alabama. It also operates a network of component production facilities along with multiple design centers.

 

Toyota's U.S. design and manufacturing operations are extensive as well. It operates major assembly plants in Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, and Indiana, and maintains a network of engine and transmission production facilities in Alabama, Indiana, and West Virginia. Its California-based design studio, Calty Design Research, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

According to Kogod, these are the 15 "most American" foreign branded cars on sale today: (Score out of 100)

https://autos.yahoo.com/news/rolls-royce-bentley-want-electric-car-game-162215033.html

Please understand a few comments to your article that might enlighten you. When you mention foreign content, please understand Japan is very clever. 99 percent of all the steel for their vehicles is Japanese owned..Nippon, Sumitomo, JFE, Kobe are the largest. JAPAN has an inner circle of suppliers that receive , assemble and ship from sites in our country thus making them non foreign, mostly since they assemble them with minimum wage workers after being shipped from outside. Eg...Yazaki USA is an inner circle supplier receiving wiring from Japan or offsite and the parts are simply snapped together to complete the production cycle and thus get designated NON FOREIGN because it was done in Canton, Michigan by an $8 hr minimum wage worker. I won't bore readers with other details... but please read 'Agents of Influence' by Pat Choate. Can you mention one single Foreign car Assembly plant in our country that did Not receive huge tax abatement for building it here? You can't, because they all received them. All the profits from revenue go back to Japan. True American companies like Ford who has been paying taxes on all their Assembly and manufacturing plants for 100 years has a cost disadvantage. They are stuck with no free tax shelters since Ford isn't building new plants ..Ford is challenged every contract year for more wages and benefits from the UAW..or they will strike. The Japanese have no unions to worry about. Ford is NOT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED ..but All of the Japanese car makers are. . Ford helped fight the Japanese building planes and war vehicles to save our country. Do you think that means anything to those new Honda Owners waving the American Flag on Memorial day. NOT. Let's also mention when any non Japanese car maker tries to import a car to Japan they are met with strict inspections and certain"tear downs". Also note Japan insurance companies charge 2-3 times higher premiums for non domestic imports. It's not a even playing field. The most crucial example is the launch of the outstanding Ford Fusion. What would this mean to the Camry and Honda losing top rank in sales. No problem, enter the devalued yen. A masterpiece. This help from the Japanese Government, already struggling with China and Korea, to allow their vehicle to give buyers in the U.S. more free options. EXAMPLE ON MOTORWEEK....a potential Fusion buyer loved the looks and ride of the new Fusion...but after crunching the numbers, she got more free options on the Accord...like a back up camera...thus to the buyer off the street the Fusion costs more than a Camry (which for a while gave $199 a month leases with nothing down) Accord or Nissan. Ford can't compete....even though it's an incredible car that still sells well.....but people are only looking at what they get for the money. Ford also has a huge retiree health care and pension liability the foreign carmakers don't have to fulfill. Well, so when you read about 'content' please know there is more to it than what you read. Take a look at the big picture.

Edited May 24, 2014 by bdegrand

[Axle17]

Ford usually ties potential new product to local and state tax abatements or other credits. So they operate pretty close to transplants in that regard.

[bdegrand]

Ford usually ties potential new product to local and state tax abatements or other credits. So they operate pretty close to transplants in that regard.

Apple's and oranges on tax relief regarding small subsidies for Ford. I would not compare a local or state abatement for a few tens of thousands to a handful of sites for some of Ford's plants COMPARED to tens of millions for the foreign plants of Toyota, BMW, Subaru etc...any fair comparison. As a matter of fact BMW was given an approximate $325 MILLION for building the plant in South Carolina, with the state kicking in another $36 MILLION for the land and BMW agrees to pay $1 a year for the next 20 years of the lease for the property. They use the word "incentives" rather than abatement. All the foreign companies, most recently VW, Are gaining advantages over Ford by non unionized workers....while Ford is stuck with UAW. Most recently Toyota moved headquarters to Texas from California....and were given $40 MILLION in taxpayer incentives. As I said.....you can't compare Apple's to oranges.

Edited May 25, 2014 by bdegrand

[NickF1011]

Or worse American flags and memorial stickers on Japan junk owned by service members.

 

I don't get why this is an issue at all. If you are going to insist that Americans should drive American cars then you should also insist that American car companies don't sell their cars overseas.

 

Should they also only eat American cheese?

Edited May 27, 2014 by NickF1011

[Fgts]

 

I don't get why this is an issue at all. If you are going to insist that Americans should drive American cars then you should also insist that American car companies don't sell their cars overseas.

 

 

 

 

Should they also only eat American cheese?

Google at what German service members drive, Korean Service members and look what Japanese service members drive and get back to me.

 

All the hold-hands PC crap gose so far if those other countries are not buying our stuff but we "have" to buy thiers at an unfair advantage.

[bdegrand]

Google at what German service members drive, Korean Service members and look what Japanese service members drive and get back to me.

 

All the hold-hands PC crap gose so far if those other countries are not buying our stuff but we "have" to buy thiers at an unfair advantage.

It won't help him, his ignorance reflects those who most likely have a protected job like either a public/federal school teacher or some type of government worker. No worry about competition or loss of job from Japan,Korea or Germany.....they can buy foreign forever and never lose sleep since they have hefty pensions and full medical coverage . It's always those like that who shout the loudest against our American companies struggling against the foreign invaders.

[akirby]

Without those "foreign invaders" we'd still be driving 1972 pintos. That competition is solely responsible for the fine domestic automobiles we have today. And in most cases these "foreign invader" brands are made in the USA by American factory workers, transported on American trains and trucks and sold by Americans in American owned dealerships.

 

Which is better? A Civic built in Ohio or a Fusion built in Mexico? Depends on whether you're looking at overall corporate profits and U.S. job creation or manufacturing/sales jobs. I would argue both contribute to the U.S. economy positively.

 

We're not talking about buying a vehicle in another country and shipping it here yourself with no U.S. jobs involved.

[akirby]

It won't help him, his ignorance reflects those who most likely have a protected job like either a public/federal school teacher or some type of government worker. No worry about competition or loss of job from Japan,Korea or Germany.....they can buy foreign forever and never lose sleep since they have hefty pensions and full medical coverage . It's always those like that who shout the loudest against our American companies struggling against the foreign invaders.

 

Then there are others like me who compete in the open job market and whose job security depends on our skills and work ethic. We have plenty of competition from U.S. companies - forget the foreigners.

 

Ford, GM and Chrysler are competing just fine with the Germans and Japanese now that they got rid of those ridiculous UAW rules. It's a global economy and you have to learn how to compete or risk going out of business. It's that simple.

 

Just look at Ford and GM in the early 80s and you'll see what happens in a protected, isolated market where there is little real competition.

 

Should we have balanced trade with other companies? Of course! But limiting competition doesn't help anyone in the long run.

[the_spaniard]

It won't help him, his ignorance reflects those who most likely have a protected job like either a public/federal school teacher or some type of government worker. No worry about competition or loss of job from Japan,Korea or Germany.....they can buy foreign forever and never lose sleep since they have hefty pensions and full medical coverage . It's always those like that who shout the loudest against our American companies struggling against the foreign invaders.

 

Lets not forget that until relatively recently American car companies were making a lot of crappy vehicles that couldn't hold a candle to an import in terms of reliability (EDIT> See the Akirby post above referencing the 80's). These "invaders" forced American manufacturers to up their game. Now we have vehicles that are more than competitive to any import.

 

If I wanted to buy a quality, competitive car I have my choice between a nice Fusion, Focus, or Fiesta. If I wanted a taste of luxury I could score a nice Lincoln. I couldn't do that in the the 80's. I could buy an Escort, but it would be a far inferior product to a Camry, Accord, or even a Sentra.

 

Americans buying foreign vehicles are also exercising their constitutional rights by buying what they wish with their money. Time moves on, it's not 1914 any more. Before you come down on your fellow Americans for exercising their rights be sure you are exclusively using American products....somehow I doubt that is the case.

 

(Akirby - sorry to repeat your points, but we were typing our responses at the same time)

Edited May 27, 2014 by the_spaniard

[grbeck]

I learned to drive on my father's 1973 AMC Gremlin. Which, as incredible as it may seem, wasn't the worst choice for a small car at that time. (The Chevrolet Vega earned that dubious "honor.")

 

The good old days weren't so good. And some of us knew it even then.

Edited May 27, 2014 by grbeck

[the_spaniard]

I learned to drive on my father's 1973 AMC Gremlin. Which, as incredible as it may seem, wasn't the worst choice for a small car at that time. (The Chevrolet Vega earned that dubious "honor.")

 

The good old days weren't so good. And some of us knew it even then.

 

My brother had a smoke-thrower ....er Vega, and yes their reputation was well-deserved.

[bdegrand]

 

Lets not forget that until relatively recently American car companies were making a lot of crappy vehicles that couldn't hold a candle to an import in terms of reliability (EDIT> See the Akirby post above referencing the 80's). These "invaders" forced American manufacturers to up their game. Now we have vehicles that are more than competitive to any import.

 

If I wanted to buy a quality, competitive car I have my choice between a nice Fusion, Focus, or Fiesta. If I wanted a taste of luxury I could score a nice Lincoln. I couldn't do that in the the 80's. I could buy an Escort, but it would be a far inferior product to a Camry, Accord, or even a Sentra.

 

Americans buying foreign vehicles are also exercising their constitutional rights by buying what they wish with their money. Time moves on, it's not 1914 any more. Before you come down on your fellow Americans for exercising their rights be sure you are exclusively using American products....somehow I doubt that is the case.

 

(Akirby - sorry to repeat your points, but we were typing our responses at the same time)

If you refer to the 80s and the inferior American products ITS all thanks to Dr William Deming who was the American teaching the Japanese. I want to disagree on a few things....the UAW still has Ford by the throat since they did not negotiate a contract similar to GM when they went bankrupt. You failed to remind yourself of the unfair playing field I mentioned clearly in my previous note....government subsidizes the Japanese carmakers, Japan charges more than double on insurance for imports, they use the intentionally devalued yen as a Clear Cost advantage, they have there inner circle of suppliers, 99 percent steel all Japanese owned, profits go back to Japan, all foreign plants were and are built with huge tax incentives...etc...BUT you chose to dodge those important points and instead it's mostly bellowing the "constitutional right "to choose. Not sure where you were going with 1914 but it doesn't matter . Oh, in closing, coming down on Americans was the battle cry when the textile industry fought the foreign companies using tactics to destroy them....guess what happened.....or maybe you would say those fellow Americans were exercising their right....since that industry is now all foreign produced. History has a funny way of repeating itself.

[Donaldo]

, Japan charges more than double on insurance for imports, they use the intentionally devalued yen as a Clear Cost advantage, they have there inner circle of suppliers, 99 percent steel all Japanese owned, profits go back to Japan, all foreign plants were and are built with huge tax incentives...etc...BUT you chose to dodge those important points and instead it's mostly bellowing the "constitutional right "to choose. Not sure where you were going with 1914 but it doesn't matter . Oh, in closing, coming down on Americans was the battle cry when the textile industry fought the foreign companies using tactics to destroy them....guess what happened.....or maybe you would say those fellow Americans were exercising their right....since that industry is now all foreign produced. History has a funny way of repeating itself.

 

How come no mention of the German automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, etc that also have transplant factories in the US? Korean automakers do too! Or is it only the Japanese that are a problem, everyone else is ok.

Also, how do you know that the 'US' automakers don't use any of the same Japanese parts suppliers that the Japanese do? I drive a Ford that was built in the US, but has less than 30% USA content, almost all of its hard parts came from Japan just like any other 'Japanese' car.

 

US manufacturing for all types of things is coming back if you haven't noticed, the cost advantage of producing in Asia (esp. China) has been eroded.

[bdegrand]

 

How come no mention of the German automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, etc that also have transplant factories in the US? Korean automakers do too! Or is it only the Japanese that are a problem, everyone else is ok.

Also, how do you know that the 'US' automakers don't use any of the same Japanese parts suppliers that the Japanese do? I drive a Ford that was built in the US, but has less than 30% USA content, almost all of its hard parts came from Japan just like any other 'Japanese' car.

 

US manufacturing for all types of things is coming back if you haven't noticed, the cost advantage of producing in Asia (esp. China) has been eroded.

 

 

How come no mention of the German automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, etc that also have transplant factories in the US? Korean automakers do too! Or is it only the Japanese that are a problem, everyone else is ok.

Also, how do you know that the 'US' automakers don't use any of the same Japanese parts suppliers that the Japanese do? I drive a Ford that was built in the US, but has less than 30% USA content, almost all of its hard parts came from Japan just like any other 'Japanese' car.

 

US manufacturing for all types of things is coming back if you haven't noticed, the cost advantage of producing in Asia (esp. China) has been eroded.

Donald you need to look a few articles back where I did mention BMW AND THEIR $350 MILLION incentive. I am using Japanese since they have the most vehicles. I personally have over 32 years in supply chain parts distribution and dealt with a supply base that made parts for all North American Assembly. The point I am trying to make is that Ford is fighting a major battle on an unfair playing field (read my previous note to save time). The percentage of content that so many people misunderstand is after the major depression in the auto industry that happened in the mid to late 70's and early 80s blew out many of the supply base. Japanese carmakers /suppliers began to gain a foothold with transplants since the economy struggled,import tariffs on cars were high and Japan's influence in bank OWNERSHIP grew. Read "Agents of Influence" to understand their strategy. Anyway, as productions Japanese carmakers could not rely on their small source of suppliers so they expanded into the Ford/GM supply base slowly. As I said before, they still control all the steel with their own Japanese base and a large number of suppliers. The ideas of content is foolish to consider reliable, as mentioned, since there are so many sub suppliers called TIER SUPPLIERS. Please look that up and it will help you understand better. People like you, no offense, have only what they are told to go on. I agree about the erosion and that is a major reason why they build here....they get the devalued yen to help them with cost advantage and thus every Accord, Altima, Camry can outsell Fusion because they cost less. Alan Mulally asked Obama ...all.most pleaded with his administration over this market manipulation of the yen.... nothing was done. CHINA did the same thing. Anyway,, I'm trying to show you all its not an even playing field and people that find a lower price will buy it. ONce you lose a buyer....they will not return The industry calls it a blacKHOLE..A CAMRY BUYER WILL ALMOST NEVER EVER BUY ANYTHING ELSE.....THE LEASE ENDS AND THEY BUY ANOTHER LEASE. ....and so on and so on.

Edited May 28, 2014 by bdegrand

[akirby]

So how is Ford able to compete and turn a hefty profit at the same time?

[mettech]

If the "Black Hole" theory was true.. the Big Three would never have lost any customers.

 

The Big Three had to rebate a huge sum of money on each vehicle they sold when the imports could sell at sticker or above.

 

The imports didn't steal customers... the Big Three lost customers.