These Are the Most American-Made Electric Vehicles on the Market

Whatever people might think, Americans are proud of their automotive industry. Buying American has been, for many, a civic duty, even in times when US carmakers have lagged behind in build quality and performance. Japanese carmakers and, later, Korean companies have almost eaten their breakfast. European automakers have been less successful in this regard, with Volkswagen trying but ultimately failing to conquer the market.

However, as times have changed, what counts as an American-made car is not as night and day as it was. Notably, the Detroit Three has optimized costs, and many models are imported, mainly from Mexico. Components are also imported, making it more difficult to identify American cars. Globalization has placed its mark on how we buy our goods, but Americans still want to know when something is made in the USA.

Since 1994, the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) mandates that almost all vehicles sold in the US offer details about the percentage or value of equipment that originated from the US or Canada. The label also indicates the final assembly point, the country of origin of the engine, and the transmission. Models with a GVWR above 8,500 pounds and those produced in limited quantities (less than 1,000 units in a given model year) are exempt from AALA requirements.

This has served as the base for Cars.com's American-Made Index (AMI), an annual snapshot of the local auto market that ranks all vehicles sold in the US based on their "Americanness." The rankings show a strange situation, as the American brands have become increasingly non-American over time, as they shifted production overseas. At the same time, foreign brands established production facilities and supply chains in the US, making their vehicles more American than American brands.

Things are a little different for electric vehicles, which are not very popular in the US despite accelerated adoption. Only about 10% of all cars sold in the US are powered by a battery, despite the most successful EV brand, Tesla, being 100% American. Given Tesla's grip on the EV market, with over two-thirds of the market share, it's not a surprise that its vehicles are among the most American-made vehicles on the market.

However, the truth is that very few EV models are produced in the US and only two produced by the Detroit Three carmakers are included in Cars.com's American-Made Index. There are over 65 EV models sold in the US, and yet only eight EV models are among the 100 most American-made vehicles in the US.

Some of them weren't included because they are exempt from the AALA requirements, either because they are too heavy or the production run is too small. These include Cadillac Celestiq, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, Hummer EV SUV, Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S and R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV. Without further ado, here are the most American-made electric vehicles sold in the US, based on their respective position in Cars.com's AMI rankings.

98th place: Mercedes EQE SUV

The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is produced at Mercedes-Benz's plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alongside its bigger brother, the EQS SUV. While the latter didn't make it into the Top 100, the EQE SUV occupies the 98th position. The Tesla Model X rival has a decent range, at 307 miles (494 km), and appears competitively priced at $77,900 until you see what you get for the money. Namely, a basic, RWD model with only 288 horsepower.

Although the price/performance ratio might not blow you away, it's the bland design that was the most harshly criticized. Most people think the design, shared among Mercedes-Benz EQ models, has singlehandedly ruined the brand. Good thing that the German brand is considering scrapping the EQ sub-brand altogether and reverting to bringing electric variants of its most popular models.

There are three powertrain options and three trim levels to choose from, beginning with the EQE 350+ SUV and EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, both retailing at $77,900. The EQE 500 4Matic raises the power level to top 402 horsepower, although the range drops to 282 miles (454 km). Finally, the most powerful EQE SUV is the Mercedes-AMG EQE 4Matic SUV, with 617 horsepower and 235 miles (378 km) of range.

71st place: Cadillac Lyriq

The Cadillac Lyriq is GM's best-selling electric vehicle, with over 13,000 units sold in the first half of 2024. It has come a long way, considering that the first electric Cadillac was announced in April 2021, and it started production one year later. Production bottlenecks and a shortage of Ultium battery cells led to a painfully slow production ramp-up, irking hundreds of thousands of customers who preordered the Lyriq.

Only 122 units were delivered in 2022, while over 9,000 customers took delivery in 2023. At the current production pace, Cadillac could end 2024 with 30,000 Lyriq sold, which is, as they say, not great, not terrible. The Cadillac Lyriq sports a 102-kWh battery pack that allows it to travel up to 317 miles (505 km) on a charge for the RWD model, which delivers 340 horsepower. The AWD variants up the power to 500 hp while only losing 7 miles (11 km) of range.

The 5-seater midsize SUV is offered in three trim levels, but even the base model is well-equipped. The dashboard is screen-heavy, although Cadillac offers physical buttons to access the most important functions. The Lyriq is among the longest in its class, providing plenty of space for passengers and luggage. The prices start at $58,590 for the RWD version, while the AWD adds $3,500 to the price tag. This is very competitive, considering that Lyriq qualifies for the $7,500 tax credit.

56th place: Ford F-150 Lightning

This is as high as an electric model from Detroit can get into the 2024 rankings. The Ford F-150 Lightning was among the first electric pickup trucks sold in the US, and many have praised its qualities. Ford sold 15,645 units of its electric pickup truck in the first half of the year, but this is a far cry from the volumes of the gas-powered variants. Based on preliminary data, this result puts it behind Tesla Cybertruck in the second quarter and likely every other quarter after that.

The F-150 Lightning ticks all the right boxes in the full-size truck segment. Ford took a shortcut by modifying the regular F-150 platform to install the electric motors and the battery pack, but this also means that the Lightning is just as rugged as the ICE F-150. It's a beast when towing and hauling, although the range might not be suitable for longer trips in these conditions.

The Ford F-150 Lightning offers many comfort features in the upper trims, and it's still the most affordable electric pickup truck in the US. Ford raised the prices for the 2024 model year, but you can still find 2023 Pro models starting at $49,995. This is the work truck variant, so be prepared to compromise on features. The XLT trim, which is among the most popular trims, will set you back $62,995 (MY 2024) or $54,995 (MY 2023).

21st place: Tesla Model 3

How the mighty have fallen! The Tesla Model 3 used to rank much higher in the AMI rankings, but things have changed with the launch of the refreshed model in January. That's because the refreshed Model 3 includes many components imported from China. Until the launch of the Performance trim, Model 3 batteries were also sourced from China. Tesla is now building the Model 3 Long Range and Model 3 Performance with American-made batteries, but that didn't influence the result.

The electric sedan has been thoroughly revised for the 2024 model year, gaining many new features that Tesla owners have been asking and then some. Tesla brought anything it deemed necessary without affecting the manufacturing costs, including ambient lighting and a rear infotainment screen. At the $38,990 starting price, it's hard to find a better-equipped EV from another carmaker.

However, its most fierce competitor is not outside but inside Tesla's lineup. The Model Y is arguably a better car for the money, even though its starting price is higher, at $44,990. However, upper trims narrow the gap, with the Model Y Performance being actually $3,500 cheaper than the Model 3 Performance. The latter is a better track car, though, so there's still a balance here.

5th place: Tesla Model X

Although the Model X and its falcon wing doors have lost their appeal over the years, Tesla's mid-size luxury crossover remains one of the most fascinating cars in existence. Like its buddy Model S, the Model X is the oldest Tesla platform, and it's still being built with 18650 cells. This doesn't mean that the X hasn't been improved over time. Tesla operated a massive improvement in 2021 and raised the stakes up a notch last year, with an upgraded technology package.

Tesla is well aware that the Model X is no longer the halo car it once was, and responded with price cuts that made the seven-seater qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. At $74,490, the Model X sells at its lowest price in history, if you can say that it sells. Although Tesla doesn't offer delivery numbers for each model, rough calculations in the "other vehicle" category show it might have delivered about 12,000 Model S and Model X EVs in the second quarter combined. These are also some of the lowest delivery estimates in the past years.

Whatever the reason for the lackluster sales, the Model X still delivers a solid ownership experience, with up to 335 miles of range and 3.8 seconds for the 0-60 time. That's for the base AWD model because the Plaid variant achieves this in 2.5 seconds while still providing 326 miles of range. These are impressive figures that should make the Model X a sales champion, but it appears that the appetite for expensive vehicles has tanked.

4th place: Tesla Model S

Tesla's first volume model is still being built using the same technical platform, although it has been improved in every aspect. Battery technology has progressed a lot, even though Tesla still builds the Model S with the same cell form factor as the original model. The Model S is one of the longest-range electric cars you can buy in the US, with 402 miles (647 km) for the AWD variant, which starts at $72,990.

Even the Model S Plaid can go up to 359 miles (578 km) on a charge with 19-inch wheels, which is still a respectable figure. It costs $87,990, but you get one of the fastest electric sedans on the market, reaching 200 mph (322 kph) and sprinting from zero to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds. That's 1.1 seconds faster than then the Model S AWD.

With the latest update at the beginning of 2023, the Model S got new technologies and subtle cosmetic changes while retaining the iconic looks of the original model. However, Tesla started cutting costs, with the first victim being the Steam support. This reflects a decision to cut the amount of RAM and storage in half, making the infotainment system incompatible with Valve's gaming platform.

3rd place: VW ID.4

Volkswagen scores a surprising win with the ID.4 produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Not only does the German electric crossover rank third in the 2024 American-Made Index, but it's also the second most American-made electric vehicle in the US. The ID.4 debuted in the 2023 AMI rankings in the 6th position after starting production in the US. A higher US and Canadian parts content mix helped it rank higher in 2024.

Volkswagen's all-electric ID.4 was recently upgraded with new infotainment system features, new software, a new rear electric motor with 282 hp for RWD or 335 hp for AWD versions, and an improved EPA-estimated range of up to 291 miles. For the 2025 model year, ID.4 got a tech bigger screen infotainment that features illuminated sliders. Prices start at $39,735 for the 62-kWh battery, whereas the 82-kWh variants can be had for $44,875 at the very least.

Although no sales champion, the Volkswagen ID.4 offers a decent amount of cabin space, cool features, and a comfortable ride. The ID.4 is built on Volkswagen's first all-electric architecture called MEB, which has grown long in the tooth. This is why the range and fast-charging capabilities lag behind some of its rivals. However, the biggest complaint is about software issues and quirks, an area that has been the Achilles heel for Volkswagen.

1st place: Tesla Model Y

Tesla Model Y claims the No. 1 overall ranking for a third consecutive year in 2024, thanks to Tesla's strong manufacturing in the US. That's an impressive victory for Tesla's best-seller, which coincidentally is also the best-selling car in the world, surpassing even the most popular combustion models.

The Model Y offers impressive features, including huge interior and trunk space, which allows Tesla to provide a 3-row option. This is available only on the Long Range trim and will add $2,000 to the price of the car. The space for third-row passengers is not great, but it can be useful for short trips.

The Tesla Model Y offers brisk performance, even in the base version, and is among the longer-range EVs on the market. The Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD, which replaced the LFP-powered RWD variant, can go up to 320 miles (515 km) on a charge. For $3,000 extra, you can upgrade to the AWD variant, which has a lower range (308 miles/496 km) but unlocks more performance. As usual, the Model Y Performance is the best choice for those who want spirited driving, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.