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Just What Is an 'American' Car?

As automakers expand globally, just what helps US economy most?

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Jan 26, 2009 11:02 AM CST

(Newser) – Lawmakers hoping to give a boost to the American economy by investing in the auto industry might get as much bang for their buck by sinking money into Honda or Toyota as they would Ford, Chrysler, or General Motors, the Wall Street Journal notes. The auto industry has become too global to categorize as “American” or “foreign.”

A Toyota Sequoia, for example, is 80% domestic parts, and a better “Buy American” vehicle than the Jeep Patriot, which comes in at 66% domestic, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The most “American"? The Crown Victoria, at 90%, but it’s assembled in Canada. And as for GM: It has more employees and sells more cars overseas than it does in the US.

The Ford Crown Victoria is the most American car, with 90% of its part from American or Canadian suppliers. It is, however, assembled in Canada.
The Ford Crown Victoria is the most "American" car, with 90% of its part from American or Canadian suppliers. It is, however, assembled in Canada.   (Ford)
The Toyota logo shines off the grille of an unsold 2008 Sequoia at a Toyota dealership in Littleton, Colo.
The Toyota logo shines off the grille of an unsold 2008 Sequoia at a Toyota dealership in Littleton, Colo.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A worker prepares to install a windshield on a Nissan Altima on the assembly line at the Nissan manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
A worker prepares to install a windshield on a Nissan Altima on the assembly line at the Nissan manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn.   (AP Photo/John Russell, file)
The offers of a cash rebate or no interest are written on the windshield as an enticement to potential buyers of a 2008 Sequoia at a Toyota dealership in Frederick, Colo.
The offers of a cash rebate or no interest are written on the windshield as an enticement to potential buyers of a 2008 Sequoia at a Toyota dealership in Frederick, Colo.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
Jan 27, 2009 2:41 AM CST
We still have to save the jobs that pay sales taxes, social security, medicare, buy eggs and milk, pay the rent, buy clothes and baby bottles.
Guest
Jan 26, 2009 2:53 AM CST
This article is very misleading. They don't tell you that the 80% "Domestic Parts" are made in Mexico and Canada (Thank you Bill Clinton). Japan realized a few decades ago that it was cheaper to put cars together in the US then ship whole cars from Japan. As well as the Crown Vic being the "Most American" despite using parts from North and South of the Boarder and being assembled in Canada, I guess they mean "Most NORTH American" ?? And why would anyone want to buy a Crown Vic anyway when their answer to the cars catching on fire and exploding after a rear end accident is high, so high that the police cruisers have an on-board fire suppression system to "Extinguish Your Burning Body" when one of these incidents occur.
Mr.C
Jan 26, 2009 2:19 AM CST
Thank goodness someone realizes this (too late)

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