American made content??? [Update: 50% U.S. manufactured]

[F150ROD]

Let’s just get to the point of this thread…..

Tesla is the most American made car…. Now go trade your Lightning in for one… The Cybertruck will be the most American Truck made…. There I said it.

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[watchdoc]

ok ok ok, I'm the OP and that wasn't my point at all. I currently drive a Leaf and even though the Leaf and it's battery are assembled in TN, it still has less american content than the F150L. I onlly mentioned Tesla because of their "one chip to run everything" approach.

 

[GDN]

It hurts, but yes one of the most disliked brands on this forum makes Ford look bad. In % of US content and engineering. That single central computer with a helper on the left and right of the car run circles around 50 modules that each have chips and must communicate and sometimes get updates. 50% is pathetic and if Tesla can source if from the US Ford can too and it shouldn't drive up costs by 30 to 40% to do so.

 

[Regular150]

85% or better.

Yes. I would pay more. Just like with all the appliances we just bought. KitchenAid. And the furniture. La-Z-Boy. And our washer and dryer. Speed Queen.

I'm not afraid to spend more for a quality, American made product. The more we build here, the better off everybody that lives here is.

Wow, somebody who gets it. As an Air Force member seeing the profits China is pouring into it's military and Infrastructure it's basically the US up until the 1970's.
I literally wish all of our purchases came with how many jobs and families it's was supporting.

50% of all semiconductors are made in Taiwan, otherwise known as China to the Chinese.
The Mustang is the highest content of US made parts and production value in the high 80-90%.
Several Hondas and Toyotas make the top ten as well.
I realize we sometimes can't afford Made in America, but it's going to be a lot more costly as a nation in the long run if we don't. Sorry to go on but all of our current Threat Posters on bases and the Pentagon show China, but it should also show Chinese Goods consumption by us right next to the new Chinese missiles or ships.

 

[GDN]

Per an article in Forbes in June 2021, using data from cars.com they didn't list percentages, just in order.


Here are the 20 “most American” models for 2021 according to Cars.com and where they are built:

1. Tesla Model 3 (Fremont, Calif.)
2. Ford Mustang (Flat Rock, Mich.)
3. Tesla Model Y (Fremont, Calif.)
4. Jeep Cherokee (Belvidere, Ill.)
5. Chevrolet Corvette (Bowling Green, Ky.)
6. Honda Ridgeline (Lincoln, Ala.)
7. Honda Odyssey (Lincoln, Ala)
8. Honda Pilot (Lincoln, Ala.)
9. Honda Passport (Lincoln, Ala.)
10. Toyota Tundra (San Antonio, Texas)
11. Ford Expedition, Expedition Max (Louisville, Ky.)
12. Acura RDX (East Liberty, Ohio)
13. Acura TLX (Marysville, Ohio)
14. Chevrolet Colorado (Wentzville, Mo.)
15. GMC Canyon (Wentzville, Mo.)
16. Jeep Grand Cherokee (Detroit, Mich.)
17. Honda Accord (Marysville, Ohio)
18. Toyota Avalon (Georgetown, Ky.)
19. Lexus ES (Georgetown, Ky.)
20. Lincoln Navigator, Navigator L (Louisville, Ky.)

 

[RickLightning]

The reality is that Americans can't afford 100% American products. We talk a good game, but to provide the wages that are required for the standard of living requires prices that we can't afford to pay. Or, given the choice, won't pay.

Another roadblock is that many industries died off in the US, because they are dirty. Steel for example.

Now add in education. In the early 1980s, my father in-law was a union worker and very unhappy that I drove a Datsun 280Z. He preached about buying US made. I showed him his Sharp TV. His Panasonic VCR. His KMart clothing made in Asia. He, and most people, truly have no clue.

To be an isolationist society is wrong. We want worldwide trade, just not be stupid about it as we have been. And, our government needs to help industry fill the holes, know where the risk is, and invest along with industry in ensuring we are not held hostage to anything.

We, as a society, don't invest in maintenance (like budgeting repairs for a bridge over its 50 year life), or stocking needed supplies that will expire, have to be tossed, and more purchased.

In the late 90s, my company sold a product made in China. Got letters saying it should be made in US. Price was $37.50. To sell US made it would have been $120. Focus group of buyers and potential buyers all backed down saying they would buy the China one when confronted with price differences.

I support North American made products, but content is unrealistic, and 100% US is unattainable.

 

[hturnerfamily]

my boiled peanuts from last night were made here in the good 'ol US of A... : )

but, to the point, and while I was the Mayor of my small home town many years ago, we took a riding 'tour' of a electric generating plant on the coast of Georgia - I was amazed at the sheer length of the COAL conveyor roadways that brought the coal to the plant - then I realized that the conveyors were not bringing the coal from train cars arriving from West Virginia, but were bring coal from SHIPS docked nearby, from SOUTH AMERICA!

crazy.

 

[GDN]

The reality is that Americans can't afford 100% American products. We talk a good game, but to provide the wages that are required for the standard of living requires prices that we can't afford to pay. Or, given the choice, won't pay.

Another roadblock is that many industries died off in the US, because they are dirty. Steel for example.

Now add in education. In the early 1980s, my father in-law was a union worker and very unhappy that I drove a Datsun 280Z. He preached about buying US made. I showed him his Sharp TV. His Panasonic VCR. His KMart clothing made in Asia. He, and most people, truly have no clue.

To be an isolationist society is wrong. We want worldwide trade, just not be stupid about it as we have been. And, our government needs to help industry fill the holes, know where the risk is, and invest along with industry in ensuring we are not held hostage to anything.

We, as a society, don't invest in maintenance (like budgeting repairs for a bridge over its 50 year life), or stocking needed supplies that will expire, have to be tossed, and more purchased.

In the late 90s, my company sold a product made in China. Got letters saying it should be made in US. Price was $37.50. To sell US made it would have been $120. Focus group of buyers and potential buyers all backed down saying they would buy the China one when confronted with price differences.

I support North American made products, but content is unrealistic, and 100% US is unattainable.

It would be hard and it might be more expensive, but don't shut it down just because it might. We need to stop the consolidation of industries. Not only do we not have a lot of things left being built in America we also have allowed consolidation to the point there is no competition.

You can say what you want about it, but it happens in every industry and we truly only have to look back 2 years ago to the beginning of the pandemic. What happened to our food supply chains even? Even our meats only come from a very small handful of processing plants. Shut one of the big ones down for a bit and you've got serious issues. We need distribution of the supply chains. We need more smaller suppliers, not giant ones owned by foreign entities.

 

[RickLightning]

Agree.

 

[Stuff]

Is it an American part if it's bought at the Home Depot in America or do they check where the wood trim and zip ties used to assemble Tesla cars are sourced?

(context: https://www.thedrive.com/tech/36274...bled-together-with-home-depot-grade-fake-wood )

Just joking, I got nothing against Tesla. I like their cars. The cybertruck not so much.

Seriously though, obviously it's impossible to buy 100% since we live in a global economy and who knows where every piece of whatever you're thinking of buying is made. Some people have better/worse situations and can afford to do so, others it's impossible and that's completely understandable. I don't think of it a condemnation, versus an acknowledgement that it would be better for the country as a whole if we build more stuff/bought more stuff made in the USA. And if you're capable of, maybe you should try.

On a personal note, one thing that was embedded into my head growing up is that Japanese vehicles are more reliable and I should always buy one. And for a little bit I did, but then I realized even if it were true (I know some people who don't agree, not the point) that there are things more important to me than avoiding a trip to a dealer or an unexpected mechanic bill now and then.

 

[Sklith]

I'd like to know how the percentage is measured. Is it by part, by cost of each part, mass, or cost of mass?

Edit: Looks like cost of parts. So it can still look good if a few expensive bits are made in USA but the majority are cheap imported parts.

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