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The American Big Three automakers don’t make all of their SUVs and trucks in The U.S. anymore. The Chevy Blazer, Ford Maverick, and Ford Mustang Mach-E are made in Mexico, for example. But many manufacturers have committed to making their SUVs in the U.S, and some of them may surprise you. Honda has made cars and motorcycles in the U.S. for decades and Toyota builds the Sequoia and the new Tundra pickup at its plant in San Antonio, Texas. While the Ford Maverick is the least-expensive American truck, it’s not the most American truck.

A lot of American manufacturers still make cars here

The 40 millionth Ford F-150 in silver at the manufacturing plant in Michigan.
The 40 millionth Ford Motor Co. F-Series truck sits on the assembly line at the Ford Dearborn Truck Plant | JEFF KOWALSKY Getty Images

To be fair, many American manufacturers do still make their vehicles in the U.S. The GMC Hummer EV is made in Detroit. The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon are made in Arlington, Texas. Ford builds the Escape, and a bunch of other vehicles on its platform, in Louisville, Kentucky. Dodge still builds the Durango in Michigan alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But the most American truck and SUV brands according to Cars.Com may surprise you. Lucid and Rivian have not made the list yet, despite both companies producing their vehicles here.

Tesla is the most American manufacturer

The Tesla Cybertruck in Giga Texas Factory
The Tesla Cybertruck at the Giga Factory in Texas | Tesla

Tesla has two plants: one in is in Fremont, Calif. And one is in Austin, Tx. Tesla builds the Model Y electric compact SUV at its Giga Factory in Texas. The Giga Factory was the site of the major media event, the Cyber Rodeo, in April that showed off new vehicles. But, the Model Y is the most American SUV.

Now, even more Teslas could be coming out of Texas. The company is planning to expand its headquarters by 500,000 square feet. Could this mean that the Cybertruck could finally get its own production line in Texas?

Stellantis: Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram

Three Ram heavy duty trucks on a mountain road
The Ram HD line of trucks | Ram

Stellantis is not a household name, but it’s the name of the company that now owns several iconic brands and their factories. It builds Ram trucks at two facilities, one in Mexico and one in Michigan. Jeeps are some of Stellantis’ most-American SUVs. Jeep makes the Wrangler in Toledo Ohio, and the Grand Wagoneer in Warren, Michigan. But, one of the reasons Stellantis isn’t No. 1 is because it builds the Renegade in Italy.

Ford lost the top spot

Front view of five 2023 Ford F-150 Heritage Edition pickup trucks, highlighting the release date and price
2023 Ford F-150 | Ford

Ford comes in at No. 3, despite having major production centers in Mexico. Ford makes most of its vehicles in the U.S.  The F-150 is made in Dearborn, Mich., and also at in Claycomo, Mo.  The F-150 used to be on top of the list of vehicles that were the most American, but they have less “domestic content” and fell from the top spot. But, Ford makes the Explorer and Expedition in the U.S., in Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky, respectively.

Honda has made vehicles in Ohio since 1979

The Honda Pilot midsize SUV is made in Alabama.
2022 Honda Pilot | Honda

Honda, which includes Acura, has made vehicles in the U.S. since it opened its Marysville, Ohio, plant in 1979. That plant makes a lof of cars, including the Acura TLX, ILX, RDX, and MDX Today. Honda has 12 plants in the US and since 1987 has exported its American-made vehicles. Honda makes some of the most American SUVs and the Ridgeline truck and its assorted versions, including the Odyssey minivan, Passport, and Pilot in Alabama.

Renault? Yes, Renault

This Green 2022 Nissan Pathfinder was made in America.
2022 Nissan Pathfinder Towing | Nissan

Really, Renault. While many Americans only think of the old Le Car when you say Renault, that’s because we forget that the French firm also owns Nissan, and Mitsubishi as well as Infiniti. Nissan has several plants here in Smyrna, Tenn., and Canton, Mo. The Tennessee plant makes cars and the Pathfinder, while the Missouri plant makes trucks like the Titan and the Frontier, as well as the NV series of vans. Nissan makes many engines in Decherd, Tenn.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.