Yes — Car Manufacturing Is Alive and Expanding in the United States

Yes. The United States hosts a robust auto manufacturing industry with dozens of assembly plants producing roughly 10–11 million vehicles a year in recent years, spanning gasoline, hybrid, and electric models. Both legacy American brands and international automakers build cars here, and new investments—especially in electric vehicles and batteries—are reshaping the map of U.S. manufacturing.

Where Cars Are Built in the U.S.

Automotive production is concentrated in several regional hubs, each anchored by major manufacturers, extensive supplier networks, and logistics infrastructure.

• Great Lakes/Midwest (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois): Home to General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis core plants; Honda in Ohio and Indiana; Toyota and Subaru in Indiana; Rivian in Illinois.
• Southeast and Sun Belt (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas): Toyota in Kentucky and Texas; Nissan and GM in Tennessee; Ford in Kentucky and soon Tennessee; Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai in Alabama; Kia and Hyundai in Georgia; BMW and Volvo in South Carolina; Tesla in Texas.
• West/Southwest (California, Arizona): Tesla’s Fremont plant in California; Lucid in Arizona. California also hosts niche EV and bus makers and key R&D centers.

Together, these corridors form a connected “auto belt,” with the Southeast’s rapid growth complementing the Midwest’s long-standing manufacturing base.

Who Builds Cars in America

Production spans Detroit’s Big Three, established foreign brands with deep U.S. roots, and a wave of EV-focused entrants.

• American legacy makers: General Motors, Ford, Stellantis (Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler).
• U.S.-founded EV specialists: Tesla (CA, TX), Rivian (IL), Lucid (AZ).
• Japanese brands: Toyota (KY, TX; joint plant with Mazda in AL), Honda (OH, IN, AL), Nissan (TN, MS), Subaru (IN), Mazda (partnered with Toyota in AL).
• Korean brands: Hyundai (AL; new Georgia EV complex coming online), Kia (GA; EV9 now built in GA).
• European brands: BMW (SC), Mercedes‑Benz (AL), Volkswagen (TN), Volvo (SC).

These manufacturers operate dozens of assembly plants and hundreds of supplier facilities, giving the U.S. one of the world’s most diverse auto manufacturing ecosystems.

What Vehicles Are Made in the U.S.

Factories build everything from compact cars to full‑size pickups and premium SUVs, including a growing number of electric models.

• Pickups and SUVs: Ford F‑150 (MI, MO), Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra (IN and other North American plants), Ram 1500 (MI), Toyota Tundra and Sequoia (TX), BMW X series (SC), Mercedes‑Benz SUVs (AL), Volkswagen Atlas (TN), Subaru Outback/Ascent (IN), Kia Telluride (GA).
• Sedans and crossovers: Toyota Camry (KY), Honda Accord and Civic variants (OH/IN), Nissan Rogue (TN), Hyundai Sonata/Santa Fe (AL), Volkswagen ID.4 (TN).
• Electric vehicles: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y (CA, TX), Ford F‑150 Lightning (MI), GM Hummer EV and Silverado EV (MI), Nissan Leaf (TN), Volkswagen ID.4 (TN), Volvo EX90 (SC), Rivian R1T/R1S (IL), Lucid Air (AZ), Kia EV9 (GA).

This mix reflects strong domestic demand for trucks and SUVs alongside accelerating EV adoption and localized production of high‑tech models.

The EV and Battery Buildout

Spurred by market demand and federal/state incentives, companies are adding EV assembly lines and constructing large battery plants across the country.

• EV assembly expansions: Tesla Gigafactory Texas (Austin), Ford’s expanded EV capacity in Michigan with BlueOval City in Tennessee progressing, GM’s Factory ZERO (Detroit-Hamtramck) and Spring Hill (TN), Volvo’s Ridgeville (SC) line for EX90, Kia EV9 in Georgia, Volkswagen’s ID.4 in Tennessee.
• Battery plants: GM’s Ultium Cells (operational in Ohio; ramping in TN; additional capacity in MI), Ford’s BlueOval SK complexes (KY) and an LFP battery plant under construction in Michigan with scaled capacity, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (production beginning in phases), Hyundai–SK On in Georgia, Panasonic’s Kansas facility, Envision AESC expansions in Tennessee and South Carolina.
• Future projects: Hyundai’s Georgia “Metaplant” for EVs, BMW’s new battery pack operations tied to Spartanburg upgrades, Scout Motors’ planned EV plant in South Carolina.

While timelines have been adjusted in places to match EV demand, the overall trajectory remains toward greater U.S.-based EV and battery production.

Economic Footprint and Jobs

Auto manufacturing is a major employer and exporter, with deep supply chains in metals, electronics, software, and logistics.

• Employment: Roughly 1 million people work in U.S. motor vehicle and parts manufacturing, including about a quarter‑million in final assembly, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
• Output: U.S. factories produced about 10.6 million vehicles in 2023, with 2024–2025 tracking in a similar range, per industry tallies.
• Exports and investment: Billions in annual exports and ongoing capital investment, especially in EV platforms and battery capacity.

These figures underscore the sector’s role in advanced manufacturing, wages, and technology development nationwide.

Trends, Challenges, and Outlook

The industry is navigating a transition to electrification while balancing demand, costs, and policy requirements.

• Electrification at scale: Manufacturers are localizing EVs and batteries to meet market, tax-credit, and supply-chain goals, though some projects are paced to evolving demand.
• Labor and competitiveness: New union contracts increased wages at Detroit automakers; companies are investing in productivity, automation, and workforce training across union and non‑union plants.
• Supply chains: Semiconductor shocks have eased, but sourcing of critical minerals and battery components remains a strategic focus.
• Policy and trade: Federal incentives (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act) encourage U.S. content; tariffs and regulatory standards shape where and how vehicles are built.
• New entrants vs. incumbents: Startups expand product lines while established brands electrify top-selling trucks and SUVs to retain market share.

Overall, the U.S. auto sector is investing heavily to remain a global manufacturing center amid a once‑in‑a‑century technology shift.

How to Tell if a Car Is U.S.-Made

Consumers can check a few simple markers to see whether a vehicle was assembled in the United States and how much of it is domestically sourced.

• VIN code: A VIN starting with 1, 4, or 5 typically indicates assembly in the U.S.
• American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) sticker: Shows final assembly location and U.S./Canada parts content.
• Independent rankings: Resources like the annual American‑Made Index highlight models with the highest domestic assembly and parts content.

These tools help shoppers support local manufacturing and understand the supply chain behind their vehicle.

Summary

Yes—car manufacturing is not only present in the United States; it is extensive and evolving. Legacy automakers, international brands, and EV specialists build millions of vehicles annually across Midwestern and Southern hubs, with rapidly growing investment in electric models and batteries. Despite shifting demand and complex supply chains, the U.S. remains a major global center for automotive production and innovation.

Who is the largest car manufacturer in the US?

The largest car manufacturer in the U.S. is General Motors (GM), which consistently holds the largest market share and is considered one of the “Big Three” American automakers, along with Ford and Stellantis. GM is known for its brands like Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick, and it has maintained its position as the top U.S. auto manufacturer for many years.
 
Here’s a breakdown of why GM holds this position:

• Market Share: Opens in new tabAs of 2024, GM held the largest market share in the U.S. auto market, according to data from Jagran Josh and Visual Capitalist. 
• Brand Portfolio: Opens in new tabGM owns a diverse portfolio of popular automotive brands, including Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac, contributing to its broad appeal and sales volume. 
• Industry Position: Opens in new tabGM has held its status as the largest U.S. auto manufacturer for many years, solidifying its dominance in the domestic market. 
• U.S. Focus: Opens in new tabDespite being a multinational company with operations worldwide, GM remains headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and is a significant employer in the United States. 

Are any cars fully manufactured in the USA?

No car is 100% made in America, as the automotive industry is global, and even cars assembled in the U.S. rely on parts sourced from various countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Asia. However, several vehicles are assembled in the U.S. and contain a high percentage of parts from the U.S. and Canada, with automakers like Tesla and Honda often having high domestic content. 
Why 100% American-made cars don’t exist: 

• Global Supply Chains: Opens in new tabThe auto industry relies on complex international supply chains for parts like engines, transmissions, and computer chips.
• Tariff Impacts: Opens in new tabThe extensive cross-border movement of components can lead to tariffs, which affect the final cost of a vehicle.

What “Made in America” means:

• Final Assembly Location: Many vehicles are assembled in the U.S. but still contain foreign-sourced parts. 
• Percentage of Domestic Parts: Some studies, such as the Cars.com American-Made Index, rank vehicles based on the percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts, labor, and manufacturing workforce. 

Examples of cars with high American content:

• Tesla: Opens in new tabThe electric automaker consistently has models with a high percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts content, according to studies like the USA Today article. 
• Honda: Opens in new tabSeveral Honda vehicles, including the Passport, Odyssey, and Ridgeline, are assembled in the U.S. and rank high in domestic content. 
• Volkswagen: Opens in new tabThe ID.4 electric vehicle, assembled in Tennessee, is another model that scores well on American-made metrics. 

Why aren’t cars made in America anymore?

• The primary reason is safety and emissions.
• The United States has very stringent regulations for new vehicles regarding safety equipment and vehicle emissions.
• For a lot of foreign automakers, it’s simply not worth the expense to meet these regulations in order to sell their vehicle here.

Are there car factories in America?

In the 1990s, BMW and Daimler-Benz opened SUV factories in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, respectively. In the 2000s, assembly plants were opened by Honda in Lincoln, Alabama, Nissan in Canton, Mississippi, Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama, and Kia in West Point, Georgia.