Tesla Claims Top Two Spots in 2026 American-Made Index

Buying American remains a priority for many car shoppers, and new manufacturing data indicates that domestic production and supply chains are keeping Tesla ahead of rivals. Cars.com has published its annual automotive manufacturing report, and the results once again place Tesla at the top.

Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Take Top Honors

This is the sixth consecutive year that Tesla has earned the title of most American-made vehicle. There is a change at the very top compared with the prior study: last year, the Model Y ranked first and the Model 3 was second. For the 2026 model year, the Model 3 returns to number one, with the Model Y now in second place.

Teslas share of leading positions dipped slightly this year due to lineup changes. In 2024, the company held five top spots on the longstanding index. However, the January decision to discontinue the Model S and Model X removed both vehicles from eligibility.

Calculating American-Made-ness

Now in its 21st year of publication, the American-Made Index scores vehicles on a 100-point scale. The methodology evaluates five key factors that reflect domestic impact:

1. Final assembly location
2. Percentage of Made in U.S. and Made in Canada parts
3. Country of origin for the engine/drive unit
4. Country of origin for the transmission
5. Total size of the U.S. manufacturing workforce

Shifting Supply Chains and the Top 10

Out of 379 light-duty passenger vehicles analyzed for the 2026 model year, 86 models qualified for the final ranking. The top ten is dominated by domestic utility vehicles and trucks, while Teslas localized parts sourcing helped its mass-market models surpass legacy automakers.

Heres the official top 10 for the 2026 American-Made Index:

The study highlights that many vehicles remaining on the list show a clear move toward higher domestic parts content. For example, the Jeep Grand Cherokee climbed 66 spots by increasing its local parts value by 14%. Established brands are reworking supply chains to emphasize local manufacturing hubs.

Cars.com also notes that imported or unranked models still contribute significantly to the U.S. economy through dealership operations, auto parts retailers, and local repair shops. Tesla is evolving production processes at Giga Texas and Fremont and ramping up Cybercab mass production.