25 Vehicles Less American Than The Toyota Tundra
Jason Lancaster | Jul 03, 2009 | Comments 21
Cars.com has found that 4 of the top 10 “most America” vehicles are made by Toyota (the Tundra, Camry, Sienna, and Venza all made the top 10). In light of Toyota’s dominance of the Cars.com list, Cars.com has named Toyota The Most “American” Manufacturer.
Instead of posting the fact that the Tundra is rated to be more “American” than both the Ram and the Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra (just like the Tundra was last year and the year before), we thought it would be fun to list off all of the vehicles with less domestic content than the Tundra.
Here’s a list of 25 vehicles with fewer domestic parts than the Tundra:
| Vehicle | % Domestic Content |
| Toyota Tundra | 80% |
| Chevy Corvette | 77% |
| Toyota Camry | 75% |
| Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra | 75% |
| Ford F-Series | 75% |
| Dodge Dakota | 72% |
| Ford Explorer and Expedition | 70% |
| Ford Mustang | 70% |
| Honda Ridgeline | 70% |
| Dodge Charger | 66% |
| Chevy Suburban Tahoe / GMC Yukon | 65% |
| Ford Ranger | 65% |
| Nissan Titan | 65% |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 61% |
| Honda Civic | 60% |
| Jeep Wrangler | 57% |
| Ford Fusion | 55% |
| Dodge Ram | 53% |
| Ford Focus | 50% |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | 27% |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 9% |
| Saturn Astra | 2% |
It’s important to note that the Tundra has more domestic parts than ANY other full-size pickup (as you can see). The figures in this table come straight from the US Federal Government, a product of the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA).
Oddly enough, the AALA was originally intended to discourage US consumers from buying “foreign” cars. Does that mean we should avoid the Dodge Ram (just barely half of the truck is made in the USA)? Who would have thought that the mighty Dodge Ram, the classic Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, and the formidable F-Series would all have LESS domestic content than the Tundra.
For any “buy American” truck owners out there, the facts are in. Buying a Toyota Tundra is good for the USA.
Filed Under: Tundra News
Doesn’t most of the money go to japan anyway, regardless of how domestic the tundras parts are?
NO. Most of the Money stays right here.
$30000 truck
80 percent of the parts cost…stays here
100 percent of the labor cost stays…right here.
100 percent of the commisions for sales, you got it..here.
Toyota Sales for that truck pays Corporate people here and does the American Manufacturing arm…American employees with money staying…oh…wait for it…here.
Do I need to continue?
Really if you look into it, I doubt any real money is going to Japan. It is mostly an asset appreciation for the global company. There are a few salaried Top managers in Japan that we help pay but past that the money stays here in the form of employee payments and manufacturing cost.
The real question is: If you make a truck in Canada or Mexico, where does the money go? GM and Dodge are infamous for pulling that trick,
I know that most of my money is going to working Americans when I buy a Tundra (Or a Camry). The Headquarters may be in Japan but the people and money are here, in my back yard, buying American Bread and water. Employing American workers. Making an AMERICAN product in America (that is what makes it an American product, Americans making it).
SOMEBODY FIND ME A CD OF GOD BLESS AMERICA! I AM FEELING PRETTY DANG PATRIOTIC RIGHT NOW!
Funniest part of that article is that the CIVIC (Poster Child for Asian Cars) has more domestic content that the Dodge Ram.
Patrick – Jeremy did a nice job of summing up where the dough goes. I would say that more than 100% of your dollars stay in the USA when you buy a Tundra simply because Toyota’s $1 billion dollar plant in San Antonio hasn’t been paid off yet.
Jeremy – Nice comments as always, great catch on the Civic.
You got to love that. It never fails the others will always state what they want about Toyota. It all boils down to Ford since the early 1900’s and chevy since the early 30’s or so which gives them at least 80 – 100 years of experience in building a full size truck and Toyota comes along in 7 years timeframe and builds one just as good as the Big 3. That’s why we get so much flak because they are intimidated by the Tundra.
Wow, I must give Jeremy kudos for the comment on distribution of money. Makes sense and I never really thought of it that way.
What about the 3500 Dodge Ram eh? Yeah, the one with the 6.7 Cummins Diesel! What kind of parts are in this puppy?
Aaron – Not sure, but the federal report (which doesn’t discriminate between models, i.e. 1500, 2500, or 3500) says 53% for the “Dodge Ram.” What does yours say?
I know that alot of the ridgline I bought was made in the us. Does anyone know what percent the average toyota is domestic
Nevermind, I figured it out. I read the top of the article.
Oh the US/Canadian content. So the F-series, Dodge Ram and Silveraldo/Serria. Which one? There are multipule different versions using different frames and parts. The F-series almost has nothing in common between the 1/2 ton and Superdutys. So is it the 1/2 tons only? Before claiming its so great for the USA, should you have the exact % of the US parts? Who’s to say that 50% isn’t a product of Canada?
Kris – It’s a sales-weighted average. If Ford sells 100k F-150s made in Canada and 300k made in the US, the domestic content figures are adjusted accordingly. As for the accuracy of these numbers, who’s to say…the truck is built from parts that are built from smaller parts that are built from even smaller parts that are built from raw materials. How far down the chain do they go? I don’t know. Still, it sure is interesting conversation, isn’t it?
No wonder Chevy’s reliability is so bad. Americans make 75% of them. We can’t do anything right.
Here’s your sign!
Steve – Ford’s truck is mostly made in the USA and just tied the Tundra in quality. I think saying the American worker can’t make a quality vehicle is incorrect.
##
greg – Try being more positive please.
I think you’re right Jason. We just don’t choose to make a quality vehicle. We have not reinvested in our auto companies and the machinery is old and imprecise. Thats what I think. I’m pretty sure 70% of the ridgeline is made in the US and Canada and it’s one of the most reliable trucks on the market.
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AskCars.com said that the tundra and f-150 are both 75 percent domestic. I think you got your percentage wrong. Ones profits goes to Tokyo and ones go to Detroit. I feeling pretty patriotic myself.
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I would rather see the money go to a foreign manufacturer (Toyota) than to a Union (UAW), as the AFL-CIO has been actively working to destroy this country through their support of Obama and ObamaCare (Which, they are receiving subsidies from). They want to subject the rest of us to ObamaCare, but exempt their own members from. Hypocrisy! What else would you expect from Union Trash!!!