Corvette Snags 5th in Most American Made Rankings
Cars.com’s American Made Index is a yearly report that helps you to know which vehicles support American families.
Thanks to GM Authority, we’ve learned that a recent Cars.com study names Corvette as the 5th most American Made car for 2021. A lot of work went into figuring out exactly which automakers are placing their manufacturing efforts in the States. And we’re here to pass along the details.
The study looked at five main criteria. These categories include U.S. manufacturing workforce, parts content, engine & transmission origins, and, most importantly, assembly location.
Making the Cut
While Corvette might be the pride of the US sports car industry, it didn’t quite reach the top of the list. Ahead of it are several models you might have seen coming, and others you might not have. 4th Place went to the American classic Jeep Cherokee. Tesla Model Y came in at 3rd and the venerated Mustang snagged silver. But the honor of most American-made car went to the Tesla for their Model 3; A surprise to be sure.
Cars.com looked over a total of 344 vehicles in its study. However, only 90 cars made the index. Cars.com has not revealed how they chose to weigh the information they gathered, but final assembly in one of the 45 light-duty manufacturing plants in the US was the most important criterion according to the company.
One of the data sources for the study was the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA). This act requires that all manufacturers selling in the US report the overall percentage of parts that originated from U.S. or Canadian soil.
Cars.com worked around the Canadian aspect of the act by weighing in the origins of each vehicle’s engine and transmission. Cars.com asserts that this method ensures the two most cost-intensive components of the vehicle are in fact American and not Canadian. The team considered all available engine and transmission options when conducting this research.
Some cars that made the list were produced via a split manufacturing process across multiple countries. But it’s not so with the Corvette. Bowling Green, Kentucky has played host to Corvette manufacturing and assembly since 1981. The 600 Corvette Drive plant is the sole locale for Corvette production and looks to be so for quite some time.
While manufacturing plans are all over the place from year to year, the study drew its line for current manufacturing status as of April 2021. With that said, the Corvette finds itself in a favorable position in the American public eye. American-made has long been a deeply held value of American buyers. And in this arena, the 2021 Corvette does not disappoint.
Photos: Chevrolet