Cars Made in the U.S.
Many people in the working class America support the working class Americans. Buy American is an unwritten rule particularly when it comes to making the purchase of a new vehicle. American made cars are a staple to the American economy. Driving a vehicle from one of what is known as the Big Three is a symbol of patriotism. In a day and age where America is at war, being patriotic is the right thing to do. Buying an American product is the right thing to do. Therefore, if you need a new vehicle, the most ‘politically correct’ way to go about that is to purchase a vehicle from one of the Big Three – Ford, Chrysler, or General Motors (GM).
The Economy and USA Cars
Our economy has become a global economy, and it is no secret that the Big Three players in the automotive industry have experienced some pain in the last several years. With oil prices not expecting to go down any time soon, the Big Three have had to compete with other big players in the automotive industry – Toyota, Honda, and so on. Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors alike have had to cut back jobs, cut back expenses, and move business overseas in order to save a few dollars. They are doing so at the expense of the American working public. Whenever a Big Three player makes cutbacks, the first headline you will hear is ‘Big Three slashes more jobs’. Conversely, companies like Toyota and Honda are moving their plants and operations to American soil for the very same reasons. In addition, they are grabbing the American consumer, and the American worker, by selling their vehicles at lower prices than the so-called ‘American made vehicles’.
What Cars are American Made?
So how do we know which are the cars made in the us? What is more important to the American people? Cars made in the US, whether they are foreign cars or not? General Motors has realized that the middle-class American wants to buy Cars made in the US or the all-American vehicle. You can see this in their ‘This is Our Country’ promotion that promotes the manufacturing of their trucks in America. However, Toyota is grabbing onto the same demographic, saying that their cars are being made in American plants. What Toyota does not tell you is that more than 37% of their vehicles are being imported from Japan, according to a report by USA Today.
The Right to Know
Today’s car dealers are making it easier for US to buy cars made in the US thanks to new government legislation. Automakers are now required to disclose just how much of a new vehicle’s parts are either American or Canadian and exactly on what soil the vehicle was manufactured. If you want a vehicle manufactured in America, but are not concerned with what company it comes from, you may be happy to know that the Honda Accord has more than 70% American components. The Corolla from Toyota contains almost as many American components and is almost entirely manufactured in California.
What American vehicles are made abroad? If you want to purchase an American vehicle through and through, then you may want to stay away from the Ford Fusion, which is manufactured in Mexico and contains less than 50% domestic components. The new GM HHR sports utility vehicle and Suburban as well is also Mexican made, and contain less than 40% domestic components, even though they are targeted to the American markets.
Does this mean that a car from an American company, made in America is so impossible to find? No, it does not; you just have to do some digging to find out where the car you want is made. Dealerships are required to label vehicles with this information as well, so if you do not see this, ask your dealer. The most American vehicle to purchase right now is the 2007 Ford Expedition with over 95% domestic components and is manufactured out of Michigan. Ford’s new crossover vehicle as well as their Crown Victoria is also manufactured in either American or Canadian plants with over 95% domestic components. GM’s Chevy Silverado is another vehicle that is targeted at the middle-class American. In their ‘Our Country’ campaign, the audience is pelted with vintage American images and the heartstrings of every patriotic American are stirred.
In fact, the pickup truck market is a very large domestic demographic for all of the Big Three players. Ford’s F250 is born and bred right out of the Kentucky plant, and it is this southern demographic that holds the largest market share for this American made vehicle. The market that purchases pickup trucks in general is known as one of the most loyal American conscious buying market in the automotive industry, and this is why many American campaigns are targeting these buyers. These drivers are known as the flag wavers in the vehicle purchasing demographic. You will see a pickup truck buyer wearing a Ford belt buckle with pride, and will shame his neighbor for purchasing a foreign vehicle. Conversely, you will not see many Audi owners with an emblem or logo tattoo.
Ultimately if you want an American-made car, made from an American company, you simply have to do your research to find it. The website ‘How to Buy American’(http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/content/db/b-db-autos.shtml) is a great starting place and an excellent resource containing a list of many American made vehicles from the Big Three players. At the same time, USA Today offers a resource (http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-03-21-car-content-chart_N.htm ) on what cars you may want to stay away from if you have your heart set on an American vehicle.
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