EVs Dominate The Mose American-Made Cars Index – And It’s Not Just Because Of Tesla

Electric vehicles (EVs) have become the most popular in the 2025 American-Made Index (AMI), and Tesla is not a surprise to be ranked first in four positions. The annual ranking by Cars.com evaluates how “American” a vehicle is, considering where it’s built, its parts sourcing, and the domestic manufacturing workforce behind it. Tesla Model 3 took first place this year, confirming the company has been dominating the list since its entry five years ago.

Although Tesla factories in Texas and California remain industry giants, the most interesting fact this year is that EVs as a segment took six of the top ten positions, compared to only eight entries in 2024. Besides Tesla, the Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4 took the 6th and 10th positions, respectively, indicating the wider electrification of the U.S. auto market.

The Kia EV6 took a very impressive jump. It is assembled in West Point, Georgia, and has 80 percent U.S. and Canadian content of parts, the highest of any vehicle sold in the country. Such a degree of domestic integration competes with legacy American automakers and highlights a changing manufacturing approach among foreign brands.

The 2025 AMI tested 400 cars and used 99 in the final ranking. Factors such as final assembly site, parts, engine and transmission source, and domestic job creation were used as criteria. It is worth noting that heavy-duty vehicles such as the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian R1S were not included.

There are 11 fully electric cars and 19 hybrid or plug-in hybrid models on the list in total, which is a clear indication that car manufacturers are no longer just talking about EV manufacturing. However, this trend can be affected by looming policy changes. The Senate’s proposed tax and budget bill could eliminate federal EV tax credits, while tariffs and rising costs may further complicate growth.