As we get more and more into the "made in America" craze I became curious about our own S197 models. While it's no surprise that foreign parts make up some of the Mustang, it was a little disappointing that only 70% of the 2007 Mustang was domestic. On the bright side, none of the parts say Made in China . . . as far as I know.
When you think of iconic American cars, the Ford Mustang must be at or near the top of the list.
But when it comes to being made in America, the Mustang, assembled in Flat Rock, Mich., ranks below a number of other brands, including the top-selling Toyota Camry.
The Mustang's domestic content in 2007 totaled 70 percent, according to information supplied under the American Automobile Labeling Act. In other words, 30 percent of the Mustang's value was derived from parts made in countries other than the United States and Canada.
That compares with an average domestic content of 75 percent for the Camry, 90 percent for the Ford Crown Victoria and 65 percent for the Honda Accord.
What accounts for the Mustang's ranking? Primarily the powertrain.
The 6-cylinder engine that goes into the so-called "secretary's special" is made at a Ford plant in Cologne, Germany, while the more brutish 8-cylinder is put together in Romeo, Mich.
Meanwhile, you can thank Mexican workers for the manual transmissions used with either Mustang engine. But if you want the automatic 5-speed, well, they're made in France.
In recent years, Detroit's Big Three automakers - Ford, General Motors and Chrysler - have scoured the globe for parts, resulting in U.S. assembled cars with more components from overseas. To be fair, the average domestic content of the Big Three still exceeds their Japanese competitors, and even more so the Europeans. But the gap has narrowed.
While the first Honda Accords assembled in Marysville some 25 years ago were basically kits shipped in from Japan, Honda of America now gets most of its parts from U.S.-based suppliers, spokesman Ed Miller said.
The Accord engines come from the Honda plant in nearby Anna, while the transmissions are assembled in Russells Point. Some of the transmissions, however, are still classified as imports because most of their precision-machined gears come from Japan.
Other components imported from Japan include GPS navigation equipment and Bluetooth technology for hands-free telephones, said Allison Dunlap, manager of the trade compliance department for Honda of America.
The domestic content for Accords made in Ohio actually exceeds the average of 65 percent, Dunlap said, but the figure is skewed by the small number of Accords imported from Japan. The same goes for Toyota's Camry.
It's not surprising that Ford would turn to Europe and Mexico for help with the low-volume Mustang. Its plants in Germany and France have been around for nearly a century, said Miami University professor Jim Rubenstein, who teaches a course called geography of the auto industry. "It's just a matter of deploying your worldwide resources as best as possible."
The Cologne plant used to provide V-6 engines for several cars, said spokesman Said Deep, and the automatic transmissions produced in France were once made in Livonia, Mich., as well, but they made way for more fuel efficient 6-speeds used in other models.
The degree of foreign content in the Mustang doesn't sit well with Don Woerz, 70, a retired utility foreman and president of the Northeast Ohio Mustang Club, but at least Ford assembles the car in the United States with mostly domestic parts, he said, "and it isn't a Japanese company."
Just about any car you buy these days will have some percentage of foreign parts, he said, "and some cars are worse than others."
But it's the look of the Mustang and its history that appeal to Woerz, a self-proclaimed "Ford man."
He just bought a 2008 candy apple red, Mustang GT convertible. It goes with his 1965 Ragoon red Mustang Coupe.
5% diff.? Ford, GM, and Chrysler are all American companys. The $ you pay for these cars stays in the US. I dont care if Toyo, Nissan, etc. are 100% made here. The profits they make buy the rice for the Jap companys. Theres a Nissan plant 30 miles north from where I live. Its great they employ the local folks, but I will always buy from the US companys. I would have a GM or Chrysler before a rice car. Thats my $0.02 worth of opinion.. like it or no..
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"It's My Stang and I'm STICKEN to It!"
2008 Torch Red V-6 4.0L Coup'e (Lil' Red Sally, adopted 11/03/07)
See my profile and gallery for Sallys many mods if interested...
"It ain't nothin' but a bunch of low-life white trash drinkin' too much cheap alcohol..."
5% diff.? Ford, GM, and Chrysler are all American companys. The $ you pay for these cars stays in the US. I dont care if Toyo, Nissan, etc. are 100% made here. The profits they make buy the rice for the Jap companys. Theres a Nissan plant 30 miles north from where I live. Its great they employ the local folks, but I will always buy from the US companys. I would have a GM or Chrysler before a rice car. Thats my $0.02 worth of opinion.. like it or no..
Where the money 'stays' is a very complicated matter. In fact many 'foreign' purchases end up leaving more dollars in the US.
For instance, two decades of Honda Gold Wing motorcycles with a greater percentage of parts made in the US than our beloved Harleys. Now, which has invested more money within the US economy?
This is a very complicated issue to say the least!
5% diff.? Ford, GM, and Chrysler are all American companys. The $ you pay for these cars stays in the US. I dont care if Toyo, Nissan, etc. are 100% made here. The profits they make buy the rice for the Jap companys. Theres a Nissan plant 30 miles north from where I live. Its great they employ the local folks, but I will always buy from the US companys. I would have a GM or Chrysler before a rice car. Thats my $0.02 worth of opinion.. like it or no..
If it isn't Ford, it would be GM then Dodge for me. Only American companies. I have too much pride to buy anything else.
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08 Mustang GT Premium
Candy Apple Red / Manual Transmission / 3.55 Gears
O/R H Pipe / Borla Stingers / BMR adjustable UCA, LCA's, Panhard Bar, Eibach Pro Springs
I'm 52 and I've never owned a foreign car.What really pisses me off is to see a PROUD AMERICAN bumper sticker on the back of a toyota or any other foreign piece of crap.
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82 Gt, 331 stroker,Eagle rotating assy.World prod.Roush heads,E cam,crosswind intake W/ Holly carb,subframe connectors,BBK headers and H pipe,flowmasters,8.8 rear with 3.55 gears,10.5" king cobra clutch, T5 Trans,Hurst shifter.
I'm 52 and I've never owned a foreign car.What really pisses me off is to see a PROUD AMERICAN bumper sticker on the back of a toyota or any other foreign piece of crap.
I understand what you're saying, but after reading the article it made we question what is an import vs american car besides the nameplate.
One post said the money paid for our Mustangs stays in the US. Really! So where does the money come from to pay for the foreign content in our cars? Not to factor a portion of the profits that go to international investors holding Ford stock.
What they need to do place on the Window sticker of cars not just where it's assembled but what is the percentage of domestic and foreign contents.
5% diff.? Ford, GM, and Chrysler are all American companys. The $ you pay for these cars stays in the US. I dont care if Toyo, Nissan, etc. are 100% made here. The profits they make buy the rice for the Jap companys. Theres a Nissan plant 30 miles north from where I live. Its great they employ the local folks, but I will always buy from the US companys. I would have a GM or Chrysler before a rice car. Thats my $0.02 worth of opinion.. like it or no..
Well that is how I feel also.
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2002 Saleen S/C Coupe
#293 Torch Red
Power in the hands of a few
I'm 52 and I've never owned a foreign car.What really pisses me off is to see a PROUD AMERICAN bumper sticker on the back of a toyota or any other foreign piece of crap.
Spoken like a true union zealot!
I'm but one year your senior and will bet you I've owned twice as man US built cars than you have owned.
I can list every one of them. Their good and bad points are forever in my memory as I do 99% of my work on every car I've ever owned.
Owned cars from Germany, UK, Sweden, France, Canada and Japan.
I've raced cars and motorcycles in the US and Canada.
Driven more miles in the snow than most will drive on dry highways in their lifetime.
Seen more of the US than anyone not involved in my profession and am continually amazed at how many Americans continue to vacation over seas when even I have yet to touch the beauty of this great nation.
You could not imagine the things I've seen!
You want to go fast? You want to go far? You say you are an American? Come to my world if you dare....it is full of wonder and danger that no politician or policeman or soldier can protect you from. It is you and a machine!
Ever drive for hours at 70MPH on solid ice? Ever conquer "The Two Sisters" in the dead of winter?
No where on this earth are the rewards of effort and work more rewarded yet YOU will judge your fellow citizen because of a choice in cars?
I ask, how many of your FAMILY went to war, willingly, unselfishly? And THEN came back with the understanding how lucky they were to be born a US citizen!
Bet you are a Democrat.....only that segment of the population DARES to decry this nation and it's total involvement in making the world a better place for ALL MEN!
Most Americans live in such elegance and wealth compared to the rest of the world I'm forever in total awe that they can even complain! Maybe ashamed is the correct word.
NEVER EVER speak badly of your fellow citizen EXCEPT when he ATTACKS the very basic founding s of this great country as the Democrats continually do.
I'm VERY sad to say I'm a Teamster...forced to be one but they DO NOT use my dues for their warped short sided agenda.
The facts of this debate were thoroughly hashed out here about a year ago. If anyone wants to wade through that lengthy thread, I'll be happy to post a link.
The upshot was that American automotive companies average between 60-75% economic content (vs just focusing on parts, which is actually only about 1/3 of the economic content) within the borders of the United States vs an average of 10-45% for imports. Honda, Nissan and Toyota run on the higher end of the range for some models, but the fact that key items like corporate profits, governance, engineering, design and repatriated earnings occur outside our borders forever puts them at a disadvantage.
All I know is alot of Toyotas that I have been in just feel "cheap". I don't care what car it is or who makes it I don't like to feel like i'm going to break the radeo if I turn it up. I like Ford and GM because I feel like I am investing a little in the USA when I buy from them. The main reason in MO that they are in trouble is because they are doing there best to stick to there word and pay for all the people that have retired from there plants.
I'm but one year your senior and will bet you I've owned twice as man US built cars than you have owned.
I can list every one of them. Their good and bad points are forever in my memory as I do 99% of my work on every car I've ever owned.
Owned cars from Germany, UK, Sweden, France, Canada and Japan.
I've raced cars and motorcycles in the US and Canada.
Driven more miles in the snow than most will drive on dry highways in their lifetime.
Seen more of the US than anyone not involved in my profession and am continually amazed at how many Americans continue to vacation over seas when even I have yet to touch the beauty of this great nation.
You could not imagine the things I've seen!
You want to go fast? You want to go far? You say you are an American? Come to my world if you dare....it is full of wonder and danger that no politician or policeman or soldier can protect you from. It is you and a machine!
Ever drive for hours at 70MPH on solid ice? Ever conquer "The Two Sisters" in the dead of winter?
No where on this earth are the rewards of effort and work more rewarded yet YOU will judge your fellow citizen because of a choice in cars?
I ask, how many of your FAMILY went to war, willingly, unselfishly? And THEN came back with the understanding how lucky they were to be born a US citizen!
Bet you are a Democrat.....only that segment of the population DARES to decry this nation and it's total involvement in making the world a better place for ALL MEN!
Most Americans live in such elegance and wealth compared to the rest of the world I'm forever in total awe that they can even complain! Maybe ashamed is the correct word.
NEVER EVER speak badly of your fellow citizen EXCEPT when he ATTACKS the very basic founding s of this great country as the Democrats continually do.
I'm VERY sad to say I'm a Teamster...forced to be one but they DO NOT use my dues for their warped short sided agenda.
A socialized American is NOT in my future!
You STILL cannot define "Made In America."
What an inspiring statement!
Oh, and I feel the Republicans are as bad as Democrats by the way, they have both put our country in the crapper over the last 20 years.
I think we should all take a moment to put our brain in gear BEFORE our mouth goes in motion.
Should we insult all the hundreds of thousand workers and their families that build the so called imports in America. After all "imports were imported from another country to the USA.
Should we insult all the fine Asian Americans that own Mustangs by and other cars built in the USA using terms like "rice burners"?
I too love rice especially with some good old RED BEANS or BLACK EYED PEAS on em.
Our preferred choice of cars should be limited to just that and not the slurs and insults to others.
The people that fought and died for this country came from all backgrounds and ethnicities in this world and we should remember that.
We did a thorough thrash of this topic last year here.
Looking at the overall investment made by the various manufacturers, which includes corporate governance/overhead, design, research, development, repatriated earnings, tax consequences, government subsidies, corporate income taxes, property taxes, etc, etc, there was a large difference between the overall economic impact of the American Companies vs the Imports.
Toyota and Honda did, indeed, rank the highest among import brands in the % of their total U.S. market earnings which stayed at work in the American economy.
The overall rankings were:
Ford (about 75%)
GM (about 71%)
Chrysler (about 54%, but then again, they were owned by Mercedes back then, so I would expect them to do better today)
Toyota (about 49%)
Honda (about 42%)
And about there, my memory plays out. The rankings are correct, but the percentages are a little bit suspect.
SOME of the factors that needed to be included were not enumerated in our study at the time. The huge advantage enjoyed by the Imports who are getting the various State and Local governments to bid against each other to bribe them to locate a factory in their state was hard to pin down overall, although it runs into the billions of dollars each year. This is, like many of the factors, NOT a level playing field. My own home state of Georgia USED to have a Ford and GM plant near me, both of which are now shuttered. When this was going on, the local communities fought hard to get State assistance to update the transportation and utility infrastructure for these factories, both of which were built in the 60's. Ford in particular was open to this option, needing a relatively modest package to keep the factory open. It was, as usual, a "Catch 22" problem. The State just stonewalled them, and 2 large corporate citizens left, leaving behind 2 large holes in the local economy.
Then we learned that they were offering about a billion dollars to two import brands to come into the idle factories. When questioned about the topic, we were told that the state budget had megabucks to ATTRACT new employers, but squat to RETAIN companies.
The deal offered to Kia was something over $425million in grants, tax abatements, training expenses, new facilities, new rail lines, new utilities, etc. This would have brought 1400 jobs into the state, at a cost of over $300,000 per job. If you did the overall math, Kia was getting the factory for free, and 2 years total operating costs to boot, all on the taxpayer's back.
Ford was employing 3000 workers, and would have stayed for about 10% of that amount in improvements and support.
UPDATE: Both factory locations are still vacant, with grass growing in the empty lots and buildings. Kia managed to get the state to build them an all-new factory in Georgia further from the old GM and Ford sites, where they were less likely to attract a workforce that might vote in a union. Hyundai (who had been fiercely courted by the State) set up shop in Alabama, who outbid Georgia thanks to an extra Billion they pocketed as a result of Federal hurricane assistance.
Keep in mind that these factors are NOT included in the rankings, and are one-time events difficult to quantify as a long-term financial entry.
PS: If someone wants to, they can point out that IF Ford or GM were to start building new factories, they too can play the various state and local governments off against one another. This is perfectly true. At some point, after Ford and GM close virtually all their American plants and sell off those properties, I would expect them to start doing this. Ford is looking to relocate a plant from Europe this coming year which will be the first such case in decades.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
I think we should all take a moment to put our brain in gear BEFORE our mouth goes in motion.
Should we insult all the hundreds of thousand workers and their families that build the so called imports in America. After all "imports were imported from another country to the USA.
Should we insult all the fine Asian Americans that own Mustangs by and other cars built in the USA using terms like "rice burners"?
I too love rice especially with some good old RED BEANS or BLACK EYED PEAS on em.
Our preferred choice of cars should be limited to just that and not the slurs and insults to others.
The people that fought and died for this country came from all backgrounds and ethnicities in this world and we should remember that.
I support all the cars MADE IN THE USA
LOL, exactly and precisely correct. I totally agree. This is NOT a topic about race, ehtnicity, or even really about what comprises a good or a bad car. National pride is something that is encouraged in America nowadays SO LONG AS its another national origin that is being touted and diversified!
Taking pride in America - in what she is, what she has been, and who we are and what we do has become Non-PC, somehow. THIS I will rail against.
But there is no reason to issue general putdowns to imports, foreigners, or those who prefer a Honda to a Ford based on any of this.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
It is a complicated business and to broadbrush it is really not fair.
I sometimes haul coolant from Hammond In. that was made in Granite City Il. to Huntsville Al. to the Toyota engine factory where they build all the V8 and V6 engines for their trucks and some cars. And sometimes I go to Jackson Ms. to Nissan hauling motor oil made in Texas.
I too have seen a little bit of this country and you are right, you could never see it all in a life time.
You want a increase in American made content in cars?
Ok , Lower the Corporate and business taxes, eliminate ALL capital gains taxes and most important, reduce the size and scope of the Federal Govt. And strengthen the dollar.
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06' GT Tungsten gray,seq. turn sigs. no spoiler.
XM,
An armed man is called a citizen.A disarmed man is called a subject.
What's more American, Mustang or Camry 
especially with some good old RED BEANS or BLACK EYED PEAS on em.
