It’s that time of year again. The grass is green, the sun is hot, and the automakers are looking ahead to the 2027 model year. That means it’s time for our annual blitz of “American Made” rankings. If you’re expecting two years of protectionist policies to have shifted things in America’s favor, the 2026 rankings may represent a bit of a mixed bag.
If you’re all about marching to Sousa behind a proper American machine, your definition may need some tweaking. Of the top 10 cars in the 2026 Cars.com American Made Index, only four—two Teslas and two Jeeps—come from traditionally American manufacturers. The remaining six are all Toyotas and Hondas.
- Tesla model 3
- Tesla Model Y
- Jeep Gladiator
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Honda Ridgeline
- Honda Odyssey
- Lexus TX 350
- Honda Accord
- Acura MDX
- Honda Passport
Many of the entries here aren’t altogether surprising. Honda’s been building the Accord here for decades, and it’s a frequent entry in lists of cars built in America with American-made parts; its traditional competitor, the Toyota Camry, fell to #11 this year—bumped rather unceremoniously by the list’s biggest mover: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, previously ranked #70. Ditching the plug-in hybrid 4xe model (and its overseas-sourced battery) likely contributed significantly to that bounce.
Jeep’s own Wrangler doesn’t appear on the list until #23 (one spot below the Ford Mustang, which often hangs out near the top of the list). The first “big” SUV on the list is the Lincoln Navigator at #12, followed by the Ford Expedition at #13. The GM full-size SUVs occupy positions 36-39, while the Jeep Grand Wagoneer brings up the rear at #44.
Of the approximately 350 cars for sale in the U.S. in 2026, Cars.com narrowed its list to just 86 that are built or produced somewhere in America. If you’re surprised by the lack of big, American trucks in the top 10, you’re not alone:
“When asked among a selection of vehicles which they thought was built in the U.S., the overwhelming majority went to the Ford F-150, with 71% of consumers believing it to be American-made,” the report summary said.
The F-150 isn’t even the most-American fullsize pickup on the list; that honor goes to the Toyota Tundra, sitting at #16. The F-150 checks in at #27 and #26 (Hybrid and Non, respectively), and the Ram 1500 lands at #55. The GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, meanwhile, are way down at #78 and #82, respectively, kickin’ it with the likes of the Genesis GV70 and the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (both of which are built in Alabama).
“This year’s list represents the ongoing evolution and diversification of American-made vehicles,” said Patrick Masterson, Cars.com’s lead researcher. “Notably, nearly two-thirds of this year’s list was produced by foreign automakers, about the same as in 2025, while the Detroit Three holds approximately one-third of the vehicles.”
“[T]he automakers contributing the most vehicles to the AMI might surprise many, with Toyota contributing a total of 14 and Honda 13. The founding fathers fall into line next — GM, Ford, then Stellantis with 13, nine and six, respectively. Notably, by state, Michigan still has the most AMI-ranked factories, but overall, half are in the South, 7% more than in the Midwest.”
But even in the heart of Dixie, many of those operations are sending their profits overseas.
“Of the 46 U.S.-based auto plants, 25 are run by foreign-owned automakers and 21 by domestic-owned,” it said.
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