NYT interactive tool maps out which vehicles are "domestic" and which ones aren't
Now that the "Cash for Clunkers" bill has passed Congress is ready for President Obama's signature, the next question is: What car should you buy with your trade-in bonus? There were two primary motivations behind this legislation, economic and environmental. From an environmental perspective the idea is to get older, more polluting and fuel consuming vehicles off the road. On the economic side, Congress wanted to stimulate sales of new cars, especially domestically built models.
Since the 1970s when CAFE regulations first came into effect, the question of what qualifies as a "domestic vehicle" has become increasingly muddy. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, any car built in the U.S., Canada or Mexico with a minimum percentage of North American-sourced parts and labor qualifies as a domestic. However, the domestic/import fleet split in CAFE has caused automakers to play games by using more overseas parts to cut get them classed as imports – even when they are built in North America. Determining what car is built where is increasingly difficult for those that want to spend their hard-earned cash (or their Clunker voucher) on an American made car. Thankfully, The New York Times is here to help. They've produced an interactive database chronicling which vehicles are actually built in the US along with where major parts like engines and transmissions come from. The NYT tool is easy and enlightening to use, as it reveals interesting tidbits like the fact that Ford's Fusion Hybrid is assembled in Mexico while the Toyota Camry Hybrid hails from Kentucky. Hat tip to JZeke!
[Source: New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
waiownsyou 3:39PM (6/22/2009)
So how do you tell where the car's assembled? I've heard that the first symbol in the VIN (1, J, W, etc.) determine where it's from but I've also heard conflicting reports that companies like Toyota will have Js period, as it defines the company's origin.
So which is it?
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Rob 3:44PM (6/22/2009)
The simple answer is: There is no simple answer. With worldwide corporations and mergers and global economies, everything is interconnected and related in all sorts of ways.
t-1 3:49PM (6/22/2009)
The first character determines origin, I think.
As far as Ford and Mazda goes, (I sell Fords) here's what I know...
1 - USA
2 - Canada
3 - Mexico
4 - USA
5 - USA
J - Japan
waiownsyou 5:09PM (6/22/2009)
Yes, I understand the country codes but I don't understand whether the code stands for the company's HQ location or the actual assembly country of the vehicle.
And add W to the list for German.
Randy 5:43PM (6/22/2009)
BOTTOM LINE: If the money that is spent on a car ends up in the automobile company's bank which happens to be based in your country, then it is a domestic automobile to you.
So, if a car company is based in ANTARCTICA and builds cars in the USA, it's not an AMERICAN car! It's an Antarctica car. Thus it's not "domestic" under any stretch or spin on logic.
You cannot logically say something is a "Japanese car" in one breath and then go "but it's American" in another.
Just like.... If you see troops running through your neighborhood with guns and grenades, they are NOT "domestic" troops IF they wear flags from another country, EVEN IF they were trained in Militia Boot Camps on the said domestic counties soil.
Someone dispute that, I'm waiting..... :) bishes
dave1w41 6:40PM (6/22/2009)
Randy is right. A Pontiac made in Australia is more "Domestic" than a Honda made in Ohio. Because the money that was made on that product is going into the US economy and not into the Japanese economy. Americans have become dumb as rocks when it comes to vehicles and they think because it's "assembled" here it's American.
bwzd7p2 9:33PM (6/22/2009)
If your question is simply where is the final point of assembly, the answer is simple: it's printed right on the window sticker, along with where the engine and transmission came from.
Judy Zik 12:38AM (6/23/2009)
The code only refers to the country is which the vehicle was assembled.
This whole line of thinking is flawed on so many levels. But let's start off by pointing out that Honda builds Civics and Toyota builds Corollas in Canada for export to the US so it is wrong to assume that because they have American plants producing some of these vehicles that they are all Assembled in America.
merlot066 1:08PM (6/23/2009)
Randy and Dave THANK YOU!!!!! Somebody finally said it!!!
Stephen 4:10PM (6/23/2009)
@ Randy, that's a pretty narrow view of the topic. You're completely overlooking the benefit to the American economy by the employment of U.S. auto workers to build "foreign" cars in the U.S.. So what if $1000 from each car eventually finds its way back to some other country if 1000 Americans are employed because it's built in the U.S.. It doesn't get much more domestic than putting food on the table for American families.
merlot066 4:58PM (6/23/2009)
Like 2/3 of Fords Models are made in the US (the number one selling vehicle the F-150 is included). And the ones that aren't are made nearby in Mexico or Canada. Ford (and the other two) still own a bunch of plants in America that they closed down, but if people get off their asses and buy from the D3, then they will have a need to re-open these plants (like the Cleveland engine plant that they opened to assemble the new Eco-Boost 3.5L).
CB 3:46PM (6/22/2009)
If a car is not listed under the manufacturer does that mean it is assembled abroad?
i.e. Prius and Impreza
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indijanac 3:55PM (6/22/2009)
I would say so because Prius is made in Japan, and so is Impreza which is made in the same plant as the Forester.
Kumar 4:12PM (6/22/2009)
From the interactive graphic:
'Note: If a car model does not appear on the list above, it is assembled outside the United States'
Now if we could get percentages of parts as well.....I remember my Subie listed where the engine and transmission came from, as well as a breakdown of the percentage of parts from the US. At least, that's what I thought the sticker said.
mitchmattice 3:48PM (6/22/2009)
you can look at this 3 ways. Where the car is built. Which country sees the profits, or where do the majority of parts come from.
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TriShield 3:47PM (6/22/2009)
The VIN code has country of assembly in it.
And a whole host of American products from American companies are assembled or made abroad, like the iPod and name brand clothing.
Does that automatically make an iPod Chinese? Or a name brand shirt Indonesian? Does it not benefit American companies here in America? Is a BMW assembled in South Africa any less German? Is Coke bottled in France suddenly a French beverage? Or a McDonalds in Japan Japanese?
Obviously we know from Toyota's success (and crash due to their dependence on the US new vehicle market) that buying a Toyota assembled in the US enriches the company back at home in Japan just as buying one assembled in Japan does.
It's no different for Ford or GM. They are American businesses working globally just like any other. Their gains abroad supported them here at home and their losses here at home are destroying them and US jobs. That's quite plain to see. If people suddenly stopped buying iPods assembled in China it would certainly hurt Apple here at home just the same.
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dave1w41 6:41PM (6/22/2009)
The only one that matters is where the company that made it is BASED. If it's Japan, Korea, or India it's not an American car no matter how many times you say it and how many magnetic flags you stick on it.
Tang 3:48PM (6/22/2009)
Everybody already knew that the Fusion was built south of the border and the Camry in the US. How is that news to Autoblog?
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mkM3 5:00PM (6/22/2009)
Wait, so CAFE requirements are based partly upon whether the car is domestic or foreign? I didn't know that. Why would it be the case? Well, I mean I can see the apparent reasoning - to give domestic automakers a bit of a break. But how does this make sense toward the goal of raising fuel economy numbers of the country's automotive fleet?. Its not like the gasoline powering the domestic cars is somehow less dependent on foreign oil or more green or anything like that. Everyone gets their gas from the same pumps.
This sounds like a bigger crock than the whole car vs. truck loophole (Dodge Magnum is, or was, a truck, while Mercedes 350 wagon is a car - yes it is true). It makes me dislike CAFE even more. And it makes the arguments of green advocates supporting the CAFE laws as they are written even weaker. You should be lobbying for laws that don't misrepresent your cause, not supporting the current ones. You're all being conned.
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Evan 3:56PM (6/22/2009)
Ironic that the "American Muscle Cars" aren't so American. The Camaro and Challenger are assembled in Canada, while the Mustang uses foreign engines and transmissions.
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