They are as American as a hot dog flambé. Shoot -- these cars are about as American as soccer.
Problem is, they aren’t just any cars, but vehicles that wear domestic collars, like Chevy and Ford, institutions in the annals of American Automobilia, legends on the track and in the buff books. Muscle cars, SUVs and sedans, each one All-American on the outside, from the badge to the reputation and the marketing spin, but all of them about as American as bratwurst. And it’s not we automotive scribes who claim it, but our very own government. Thanks to the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA), a vehicle assembled in the US must also be made of US/Canadian parts and content - least 75 percent – or, according to the wizards in Washington, it’s not “Made in the USA.” Designed to protect domestic bragging rights for American companies, the law has had the opposite effect, as domestic automakers search for cheaper parts over the border, while “import” automakers get busy building assembly plants Stateside. They’ve also brought in their own parts system, and the result has been steady gains in the percentage of parts sourced in America.
It’s worked. Today, the Toyota Camry is one of the most American cars you can buy, more American than even the Ford Mustang. There’s more, too, much more, enough for us to compile a list of All-American “Imports” -- cars you think are American, but aren’t. The list includes the ‘Stang, and such apple pie marquees as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Some are made here, but carry fewer than the AALA’s mandated 75 percent parts mandate. Others are built in Canada, or Mexico. For the purpose of this list, we took the top sellers for 2006 with domestic nameplates that were either assembled elsewhere, or failed the AALA’s requirement. With some vehicles assembled in multiple locations, we kept the list to vehicles assembled in one location. For example, the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan is built in the United States and Canada. In this case, along with the Dodge Ram, we chose the US plant as the home locations. Shoppers should know, however, that Chrysler’s minivans are basically split by wheelbase: the long-wheelbase versions, or “Stow and Go” models, are built in Canada, while the short-wheelbase vehicles are assembled in St. Louis, Missouri. We also disqualified vehicles that face elimination by 2009, thus disqualifying the Pontiac Grand Prix. For poncho fans out there, the Grand Prix is built in Canada, with 92 percent US-sourced plants.
It’s simple: in order to be “American Made,” a vehicle must be assembled here, with 75 percent of its content sourced from the US. The top selling cars that failed the test, in alphabetical order:
Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet HHR
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chrysler 300
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Dodge Charger
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Ford Mustang It’s enough to send a good ol’ boy off on a beer-soaked crying jag, and then straight to his local Honda dealer. And that’s a good thing. As automakers continue to turn to global solutions in the manufacture and assembly of vehicles, fewer cars can realistically claim one source of origin. Indeed, if car buyers want to buy cars “Made in America,” they should focus on cars assembled here (not Canada or Mexico), with a healthy amount of US content. These are the cars that matter, because they support local economies and put Americans to work.
Yeah, we know. The Mustang.
Just how the most American of American cars ended up on this list should be the subject of a Congressional Hearing, but then – Congress is the institution that enacted the silly American Automobile Labeling Act. According to the Act, cars must be made of 75 percent US parts, and the Mustang registers at a paltry 65 percent, Canada included.
Perhaps we should call it Le Mustang.
At least it’s still assembled in Michigan. Consider, though, that if you want to buy a more American car than the Mustang – the Mustang -- try the Camry, the Accord, the Avalon, the Corolla…
Yikes. When something as iconic as the Mustang is unable to claim All-American status, it’s time to build a bomb shelter in the backyard. Redesigned for the 2005 model year, the Mustang has been a red, white and blue smash for around 40 years. And now, it’s an import. Please – keep it a secret from your Moms and Dads. It’s cruel to make old people cry.
Photos courtesy of the Automakers
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2006 Black Mustang GT Premium Package - Manual - Red Leather Interior - 20" Black Incubus Valera Rims (Ventus 245/90)
WE hashed over much of this (I believe someone cited the same article) over in KScoyote's American Honda thread.
If you're driving a 3.8 (V6) Mustang, the motor comes from Europe (as I recall - Germany I believe). The 4.0 is American.
When Ford closes the Windsor plant (Canada), ALL V8 motors sold in the U.S. will be American made. Otherwise, about 1/3 are currently Canadian.
Some manual transmissions used in Ford cars are made in Mexico.
There are a variety of assembly plants in Canada, though much of their production is also consumed in Canada. Ford has 3 assembly plants in Mexico, one of which produces a small car (Ikon) not sold in the U.S. The other two plants produce F150's (most of which are sold in Mexico and Latin America) and Fusions (some of which end up in this country).
As for the other major components in a Mustang, the differential, driveshaft, automatic transmissions, MOST manual transmissions, all stamped steel parts (all the body and suspension parts), most of the interior components (stereo equipment and various electronic components are imported), the carpet, upholstery, published materials, sales, support, maintenance, parts program, corporate management, design and engineering are all American. A variety of smaller components may be from the U.S., Canada or Mexico, including such things as A/C compressors, starters, alternators, water pumps, etc.
Any computation of content which DOES NOT recognize the huge contribution to the total economic impact of Corporate Governance, repatriated earnings, engineering, design, and the value of intellectual property is a weak argument.
A Japanese company may indeed produce a car in the United States, but it behooves you to scrutinize the faces and nationalities of those doing the production. With Toyota, the higher management and engineering staff (which overlap the table of organization's list of highest paid positions) are primarily Japanese imports. There is no doubt that the profits, intellectual property and all residual value flows to Japan, NOT the United States.
As I said, this has been exhaustively examined elsewhere. If the idea is that "it doesn't matter anymore", then the reader would be well advised to consult the other thread and think about the ramifications of reducing our manufacturing base to nothing more than printing up insurance policies to sell to one another.
They are as American as a hot dog flambé. Shoot -- these cars are about as American as soccer.
Problem is, they aren’t just any cars, but vehicles that wear domestic collars, like Chevy and Ford, institutions in the annals of American Automobilia, legends on the track and in the buff books. Muscle cars, SUVs and sedans, each one All-American on the outside, from the badge to the reputation and the marketing spin, but all of them about as American as bratwurst. And it’s not we automotive scribes who claim it, but our very own government. Thanks to the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA), a vehicle assembled in the US must also be made of US/Canadian parts and content - least 75 percent – or, according to the wizards in Washington, it’s not “Made in the USA.” Designed to protect domestic bragging rights for American companies, the law has had the opposite effect, as domestic automakers search for cheaper parts over the border, while “import” automakers get busy building assembly plants Stateside. They’ve also brought in their own parts system, and the result has been steady gains in the percentage of parts sourced in America.
It’s worked. Today, the Toyota Camry is one of the most American cars you can buy, more American than even the Ford Mustang. There’s more, too, much more, enough for us to compile a list of All-American “Imports” -- cars you think are American, but aren’t. The list includes the ‘Stang, and such apple pie marquees as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Some are made here, but carry fewer than the AALA’s mandated 75 percent parts mandate. Others are built in Canada, or Mexico. For the purpose of this list, we took the top sellers for 2006 with domestic nameplates that were either assembled elsewhere, or failed the AALA’s requirement. With some vehicles assembled in multiple locations, we kept the list to vehicles assembled in one location. For example, the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan is built in the United States and Canada. In this case, along with the Dodge Ram, we chose the US plant as the home locations. Shoppers should know, however, that Chrysler’s minivans are basically split by wheelbase: the long-wheelbase versions, or “Stow and Go” models, are built in Canada, while the short-wheelbase vehicles are assembled in St. Louis, Missouri. We also disqualified vehicles that face elimination by 2009, thus disqualifying the Pontiac Grand Prix. For poncho fans out there, the Grand Prix is built in Canada, with 92 percent US-sourced plants.
It’s simple: in order to be “American Made,” a vehicle must be assembled here, with 75 percent of its content sourced from the US. The top selling cars that failed the test, in alphabetical order:
Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet HHR
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chrysler 300
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Dodge Charger
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Ford Mustang It’s enough to send a good ol’ boy off on a beer-soaked crying jag, and then straight to his local Honda dealer. And that’s a good thing. As automakers continue to turn to global solutions in the manufacture and assembly of vehicles, fewer cars can realistically claim one source of origin. Indeed, if car buyers want to buy cars “Made in America,” they should focus on cars assembled here (not Canada or Mexico), with a healthy amount of US content. These are the cars that matter, because they support local economies and put Americans to work.
Yeah, we know. The Mustang.
Just how the most American of American cars ended up on this list should be the subject of a Congressional Hearing, but then – Congress is the institution that enacted the silly American Automobile Labeling Act. According to the Act, cars must be made of 75 percent US parts, and the Mustang registers at a paltry 65 percent, Canada included.
Perhaps we should call it Le Mustang.
At least it’s still assembled in Michigan. Consider, though, that if you want to buy a more American car than the Mustang – the Mustang -- try the Camry, the Accord, the Avalon, the Corolla…
Yikes. When something as iconic as the Mustang is unable to claim All-American status, it’s time to build a bomb shelter in the backyard. Redesigned for the 2005 model year, the Mustang has been a red, white and blue smash for around 40 years. And now, it’s an import. Please – keep it a secret from your Moms and Dads. It’s cruel to make old people cry.
Photos courtesy of the Automakers
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
A Japanese company may indeed produce a car in the United States, but it behooves you to scrutinize the faces and nationalities of those doing the production. With Toyota, the higher management and engineering staff (which overlap the table of organization's list of highest paid positions) are primarily Japanese imports.
Well there is actually about 5 american Engineers in our plant to each one of them. I wok for a Toyota owned company and visit their assembly plants often.
Though beyond that a lot of our componrnt parts are shippe in from japan, but some parts we cast or mold here and machine, assemble and ship to their final assembly facilities. Though all of our machines (100%) of them atr built in japan. All of out tooling comes from Japan... so is the Camery, Corrolla, Avelaon, Sienna, andTacomas engines really made in america?
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
When Ford redesigned the Mustang for '05, they were quite clear that it would be built in a Japanese factory (Auto Alliance) using a lot of shared parts. The previous Mustangs '04 and earlier, built in Dearborn of a lot of Mustang specific parts, was simply not earning a profit for Ford. I'm afraid that it is a fact of business life that if you're company is not doing well, you need to address the issue at hand: profitability. Ford did what was needed to make the Mustang profitable and keep it in the line. Unfortunately, a lot of "traditionalists", like myself, are not going to like what was done. Because the foreign companies, through agreements with the US government, can come the the US and produce a competitive product at a markedly lower cost than can a US business, there is no level playing field. The economic and tax advantages for foreign companies are so significant that US companies will continue to do what is necessary to survive. Unfortunately, I don't see any good end in sight. On the Ford Ranger forums there is talk that the next generation Ranger is to be made in Thailand! Ford has even shown production models of the new Ranger.
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2002 Mustang GT Convertible, auto, Mineral Grey, Dark Charcoal leather, Bullitt rims.
2007 Ford F150 SuperCab FX4, Dark Shadow Grey/Black cloth, 5.4 FFV.
The Auto Alliance plant is jointly owned by Ford and Mazda, though it is worth noting that Ford has the larger portion, and of course, Ford is the largest stockholder in Mazda (with essential control of that company, making it "part of" Ford). The plant is also located in Michigan, making it an American assembly plant, even for the Mazda 6 cars made there.
The primary problem with Dearborn was it was extremely antiquated, had an expensive layout to change (and with change occuring on a much more rapid cycle than the old version, this was an expense that was just going to get worse), and was simply worn out.
The biggest problem I see with AAI is the fact that it has "land-locked" the new Mustang. It is running at capacity (on the Mustang side - the Mazda side is far from fully utilized), and therefore Ford has little interest in increasing Mustang sales. They make far more profit from making the 3-shift max. of about 200,000 stangs a year, whereas any additional orders simply bleed over into the next year or represent customer service failures such as occurred in 2005.
It is solely the "halo" effect of the Mustang that provides for any advertising or incentives for the cars. Otherwise, Ford would spend that money promoting Bill's ugly mug on our airwaves, doing a very poor imitation of Dr. Z.
Everyone should observe that it is Saleen who has brought out the PJ Boss 302 (4.6 stroked to 302 inches), NOT Ford. At over $50,000 per copy, this is a car that will not find a large following, however. The fake Hertz 350H cars (not badged Shelbies, as well they should not be), which are largely nothing more than a set of decals and some wheels (plus FRPP performance pack worth maybe 20 horses), will be 500 cars available for rent in some states like California and Florida (not Georgia, though I don't care anyway). I've seen imitation 350's being hawked at some dealers with price tags $14,000 (big money for what you get) over a comparable GT. No Mach One looms on the horizon, SVT is deader than Zarqawi, and the prices being gouged for the new GT500 make it more of a real estate speculation than a car.
The California GT's with their vestigial, non-functional scoops and zero performance enhancements (but large markups) are coming out soon (please, somebody hold me back), and doubtless will find a ready market among those who once bought Mustang II's. Perhaps they will offer a Ghia package to further enhance its Rodeo Boulevard appeal!
With Saleen bringing out the 302 that Ford should be building, its easy to see that the hints about a Boss model based upon the Aussie model is dead - probably for the best, else this thread WOULD be talking about imported Mustangs!
The talk about making "Rangers" in Thailand is largely based on some confusion over the fact that the Thailand plant ALREADY makes a "Ranger" truck - a tiny Asia-specific model that has nothing in common with our local pickup truck. It would be difficult for that plant to gear up to add a larger model. If Ford wishes to modify a plant to make Rangers, the Ikon plant in Mexico would be a logical choice, though even more likely is that Ford will build a new plant (its 4th) in Mexico for that purpose (Ford execs have been hinting at this for several years now). With Ranger's sales lack-luster, plans for the troubled truck line are really up in the air.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GT02
When Ford redesigned the Mustang for '05, they were quite clear that it would be built in a Japanese factory (Auto Alliance) using a lot of shared parts. The previous Mustangs '04 and earlier, built in Dearborn of a lot of Mustang specific parts, was simply not earning a profit for Ford. I'm afraid that it is a fact of business life that if you're company is not doing well, you need to address the issue at hand: profitability. Ford did what was needed to make the Mustang profitable and keep it in the line. Unfortunately, a lot of "traditionalists", like myself, are not going to like what was done. Because the foreign companies, through agreements with the US government, can come the the US and produce a competitive product at a markedly lower cost than can a US business, there is no level playing field. The economic and tax advantages for foreign companies are so significant that US companies will continue to do what is necessary to survive. Unfortunately, I don't see any good end in sight. On the Ford Ranger forums there is talk that the next generation Ranger is to be made in Thailand! Ford has even shown production models of the new Ranger.
__________________
tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
So my Mustang is an Import? 
