The “Made in America” label continues to carry weight for consumers, particularly as tariffs remain a recurring topic in the automotive industry. Rather than focusing solely on brand nationality, the Cars.com American-Made Index evaluates the manufacturing footprint behind each vehicle sold in the United States.
The 2026 edition ranks 86 vehicles using four main criteria: final assembly location, the percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts, the country of origin for the engine and transmission, and workforce location. The latest results include several changes within the top 20 compared with last year’s ranking.
Tesla Stays on Top as Jeep Climbs Into the Podium Positions
The top two positions remain unchanged from the previous edition of the index. The Tesla Model 3 once again ranks first, while the Tesla Model Y holds onto second place.
The biggest change near the top comes in third place. The discontinuation of the Tesla Model S and Model X removed both vehicles from the ranking, allowing the Ohio-built Jeep Gladiator to move up from fifth to third. Jeep also claims fourth place with the Detroit-assembled Grand Cherokee.
This year’s top 10 is completed by a strong showing from Japanese-owned brands. The Alabama-built Honda Ridgeline and Honda Odyssey rank fifth and sixth, followed by the Indiana-built Lexus TX350 in seventh. The Ohio-built Honda Accord and Acura MDX occupy eighth and ninth, while the Alabama-built Honda Passport rounds out the top 10.
Japanese Automakers Dominate the Remainder of the Top 10
Although American manufacturers occupy the first four positions, the rest of the top 10 belongs entirely to Japanese-owned companies. Honda alone places five different models in the leading group, while Lexus secures another position with the TX350.
Six of the 10 highest-ranked vehicles now come from non-American automakers. The results reflect the methodology used by the Cars.com American-Made Index, which focuses on production, sourcing and workforce factors rather than the nationality of the parent company.
Several Models Make Major Gains While Others Fall Down the Rankings
Beyond the top 10, the 2026 index features notable changes throughout the top 20. The Toyota Camry climbs from 24th to 11th place, while the Lincoln Navigator makes one of the largest jumps, moving from 69th to 12th.
The Ford Expedition also records a substantial rise after advancing from 66th place, followed by the Lincoln Aviator, which moves from 28th to 14th, and the Ford Explorer, which improves from 23rd to 15th. The Kia EV9 climbs from 67th to 17th, and the Toyota Tundra advances from 51st to 19th.
At the same time, several vehicles that were among the top 20 in 2025 no longer appear there. The Nissan Pathfinder falls to 51st, the Chevrolet Colorado drops to 31st, the Kia Sportage declines to 57th, the Jeep Wrangler slips to 23rd, and the Honda Pilot moves down to 32nd.
While American automakers continue to occupy the first four positions in the 2026 American-Made Index, Japanese-owned manufacturers account for six of the top 10 vehicles and 12 of the top 20.
