Its that time of year again. The grass is green, the sun is hot, and automakers are looking forward to the 2027 model year. That means it’s time for our annual blitz of “American Made” rankings. If you’re hoping that two years of protectionist policies will turn things in America’s favor, the 2026 rankings may represent a bit of a mixed bag.
If you’re thinking of marching toward Susa behind a proper American machine, your definition may need some tweaking. among the top 10 cars 2026 Cars.com American Made IndexOnly four—two Teslas and two Jeeps—come from traditionally American manufacturers. The remaining six are Toyota and Honda.
- 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 are not surprising at all. Honda has been building the Accord here for decades, and it’s steadily making inroads into the list of made-in-America cars with American-made parts; Its traditional rival, the Toyota Camry, dropped to 11th place this year – unexpectedly bumped into the list’s biggest mover: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which previously ranked #70. The abandonment of the plug-in hybrid 4xe model (and its foreign-sourced battery) likely contributed significantly to that surge.
Jeep’s own Wrangler doesn’t appear on the list until #23 (one spot below the Ford Mustang, which often hangs near the top of the list). The first “large” SUV on the list is the Lincoln Navigator at #12, followed by the Ford Expedition at #13. GM full-size SUVs rank 36-39, while the Jeep Grand Wagoneer follows close behind at #44.
Of the approximately 350 cars for sale in the US in 2026, Cars.com narrowed its list to just 86 that are built or produced somewhere in the US. If you’re surprised by the lack of big, American trucks in the top 10, you’re not alone:
The report summary states, “When the selected vehicles were asked what they thought was made in America, the overwhelming majority went to the Ford F-150, with 71% of consumers considering it American-made.”
The F-150 isn’t even the most American fullsize pickup on this 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. Meanwhile, the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado are down at #78 and #82, respectively, tying it with the Genesis GV70 and Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (both built in Alabama).
“This year’s list represents the ongoing evolution and diversification of American-made vehicles,” said Patrick Masterson, principal researcher at Cars.com. “Notably, about two-thirds of this year’s list was produced by foreign automakers, roughly the same as 2025, while the Detroit Three own about one-third of the vehicles.”
“[T]he automakers contributing the most vehicles to the AMI may surprise many, with Toyota contributing a total of 14 and Honda contributing 13. The founding fathers come next in line – GM, Ford, then Stellantis, with 13, nine and six, respectively. Notably, Michigan still has the most AMI-ranked factories by state, but overall, half are in the South, compared to the Midwest. 7% more.”
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 operated by foreign-owned automakers and 21 by domestically owned automakers,” it said.
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