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Cummins, based in Indiana, is one of the most all-American companies around. So you’d think a heavy-duty ram truck with an iconic Cummins-built diesel I6 engine would be as American as baseball and apple pie. But the truth is that every Ram with a Cummins engine is assembled in Mexico. In fact, every heavy-duty Ram hails from Mexico, regardless of engine type.

Where is a diesel Cummins Ram truck built?

Every heavy-duty Ram pickup truck (including ones equipped with a Cummins diesel) is assembled at Stellantis’ plant in Saltillo, Mexico. The 6.4-liter V8 base engine is also built in Saltilla (alongside all Hemi engines). But ordering it with the Cummins I6 ensures that at least the engine is built north of the border.

White heavy-duty Ram 3500 pickup truck with a Cummins engine rolling off the Mexico assembly line.
Ram 3500 with Cummins engine | Stellantis

Many pickup trucks are assembled in Mexico, but the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 are the only heavy-duty pickup trucks built in Mexico. The Ford Super Duty series and the heavy-duty trucks from Chevrolet and GMC are all assembled in the U.S.

When you buy a half-ton or lighter truck, the automaker must print the percentage of its parts assembled in the U.S. or Canada on the window sticker. However, the law does not require they disclose this information about their heavy-duty trucks. So there’s no way to know what percentage of a Cummins diesel Ram’s parts come from the U.S. or Canada.

Which trucks does Ram build in Mexico?

Ram assembles all its heavy-duty pickup trucks, some of its Ram 1500 Classics, and Pro Master vans in Mexico. Ram also assembles some unique foreign-market trucks in Mexico.

White heavy-duty Ram 3500 pickup truck parked under a Mexico flag in front of the Saltillo factory.
Ram 3500 | Stellantis

Ram assembles every fifth-gen 1500 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Ram assembles the truck’s eight-speed transmission in Kokomo, Indiana. But if you order the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, you are guaranteed to get an engine built in Mexico.

Chrysler began building cars in the Saltillo area in the 1950s. The current Saltillo plant has won internal awards for having Chrysler Corporation’s highest build quality. It began assembling trucks in 1995 and heavy-duty trucks in 2009.

Interestingly, the Saltillo plant also builds a Mexican-market-only heavy-duty truck: the Ram 4000. This truck has increased payload capacity because of heavy-duty leaf springs. But this Mexico-market heavy-duty Ram doesn’t have a Cummins. Or even a 6.4-liter. Unlike every other heavy-duty Ram truck, it is available with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a manual transmission.

Which pickup truck is the most ‘made in the U.S.A?’

That depends on who you ask. Some point out that the Honda Ridgeline has the greatest percentage of parts built in the U.S.A. or Canada. Others argue that because Honda isn’t headquartered in the U.S., the distinction should go to the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon.

Birds-eye view of heavy-duty Ram pickup trucks parked in front of the Saltillo Mexico assembly plant.
Heavy duty Ram trucks | Stellantis

Here’s the scoop: Cars.com maintains a list based solely on the information on the window sticker. It ranks pickup trucks by where they were assembled and what percentage of their parts come from the U.S. or Canada. Here’s how 2023 trucks stack up in Cars.com’s list:

  1. Honda Ridgeline
  2. Toyota Tundra
  3. Jeep Gladiator
  4. Ram 1500
  5. Hyundai Santa Cruz
  6. GMC Canyon
  7. Chevrolet Colorado
  8. Ford F-150 Lightning (EV)
  9. Toyota Tundra Hybrid
  10. Nissan Titan
  11. Ford F-150 Hybrid
  12. Nissan Frontier
  13. Ford F-150 (ICE)
  14. Ford Ranger
  15. Ram 1500 Classic
  16. GMC Sierra 1500
  17. Chevrolet Silverado 1500

The experts at the Kogod School of Business (part of American University) dig a little deeper. They give more weight to components such as the engine and transmission. They also give vehicles engineered in the U.S., or built by automakers headquartered here, a bonus. Their logic is that more of the dollars you spend on these vehicles will stay in the U.S. Here are the Kogod rankings:

  1. Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (gasoline) – #4 of all vehicles
  2. Ford F-150 (with 2.7, 3.3, or 5.0-liter engine) – #8
  3. Honda Ridgeline – #10
  4. Jeep Gladiator (V6) – #17
  5. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (diesel) – #17
  6. Ford F-150 (with 3.5-liter EcoBoost) – #18
  7. Ram 1500 Classic (U.S. assembled versions) – #21
  8. Toyota Tundra (both ICE and hybrid) – #25
  9. Toyota Tacoma (U.S. assembled version) – #25
  10. Jeep Gladiator Rubicon (V8) – #26
  11. Ram 1500 – #30
  12. Jeep Gladiator (diesel) – #31
  13. Nissan Titan – #35
  14. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (U.S. assembled version with 5.3-liter V8) #37
  15. Ford F-150 Lightning (EV) – #40
  16. Nissan Frontier – #42
  17. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (5.3-liter V8)
  18. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Mexico assembled version)
  19. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Mexican assembled with U.S. engines) #42
  20. Ram 1500 Classic (Mexican assembled version) – #45
  21. Toyota Tacoma (Mexican assembled version) – #52
  22. Chevrolet Silverado (Mexican assembled with 5.3-liter V8) – #62
  23. Ford Maverick – #70

Next, read how to check your VIN to see if your truck was Mexican-made, or see how American your car is in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.