Tesla Model 3 ranked first in the 2021 American Manufacturing Index (AMI) released by Cars.com, becoming the first pure electric vehicle to top the list in the website’s 16-year history, and Musk tweeted directly that this is the most produced car in the United States.
According to Cars.com, the latest annual survey results ranked “the new vehicles that contribute the most to the U.S. economy” based on U.S. factory jobs, manufacturing plants and parts purchases.
Tesla’s all-electric vehicles made the list for the first time in 2020 when the Model 3 dropped to No. 4 and the Model S came in at No. 3. The Tesla Model X was also in ninth place last year. In 2021, Tesla Model Y will enter the list, ranking third. Both the Model Y and 3 are built at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California.
“It’s worth noting that Tesla is the only automaker that claims all vehicles it sells in the U.S. are 100% domestically produced, well above the industry average of roughly 52% for 2021 models,” Cars .com assistant managing editor Kelsey Mays said.
Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant took the No. 2 spot with the all-new Mustang, down from No. 1 last year’s Ford Ranger (now No. 28), while Jeep took the No. 2 spot with its Jeep Cherokee 4th place.
Honda took the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th spots with its Lincoln, Alabama-built Ridgeline, Odyssey, Pilot and Passport. Toyota took the last spot with its Tundra model built in San Antonio, Texas.
Of the 344 models on the market in 2021, 90 are eligible for this year’s AMI. General Motors has the most on this year’s list, with 19 in total. Honda has 13 models, of which the Civic ranks 90th. Toyota has 12 and Ford has 11.
This suggests high consumer demand, especially for U.S.-made vehicles, despite semiconductor shortages and continued low auto inventories.
“There is no single formula that tops every other model among the most qualified American-made cars for sale this year. This is ultimately beneficial for consumers who care about buying American-made cars because they own a wide variety of cars. Types with high domestic credentials,” Mays said.
- Tesla Model 3, Fremont, California
- Ford Mustang, Flat Rock, Michigan
- Tesla Model Y, Fremont, California
- Jeep Cherokee, Belvidere, Illinois
- Chevrolet Corvette, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Honda Ridgeline, Lincoln, Alabama
- Honda Odyssey, Lincoln, Alabama
- Honda Pilot, Lincoln, Alabama
- Honda Passport, Lincoln, Alabama
- Toyota Tundra, San Antonio, Texas
- Ford Expedition, Expedition Max, Louisville, KY
- Acura RDX, East Liberty, Ohio
- Acura TLX, Marysville, Ohio
- Chevrolet Colorado, Wentzville, Missouri
- GMC Canyon, Wentzville, Missouri
The US “Consumer Reports” annual car brand rating: Tesla’s rating in 2021 fell 7 points to 23; Tesla Model 3 is no longer the “best choice” in the electric vehicle market in 2022, Its place was taken by the Ford electric Mustang Mach-E.
Consumer Reports notes: So far, our members have reported very few issues with the Mustang Mach-E, giving it an edge over the Model Y or even the Model 3. Ford has another notable advantage: its driver monitoring system. Therefore Mach-E has a significant advantage in reliability.
New this year, we’ll add 2 points to a vehicle’s overall score if it has active driver assistance and adequate driver monitoring. The Ford Mustang Mach-E gets these points because its BlueCruise active driver assistance system has an effective driver monitoring system that issues appropriate warnings when the driver is distracted. On the other hand, Tesla’s Autopilot system will still work if the driver looks away or uses a cell phone, as long as at least one hand is on the steering wheel.