EVs Dominate 2025 American-Made Cars Index — And It’s Not Just Tesla

TL;DR

• Tesla secured the top four spots in the 2025 Cars.com American-Made Index.
  
• EVs filled 6 of the top 10 rankings, including Kia EV6 and Volkswagen ID.4.
  
• The Kia EV6 now features the highest percentage of North American parts in any vehicle sold in the U.S.
  
• Growing EV representation (11 BEVs and 19 hybrids) signals true industry progress.
  
• Future growth could be tested by tariffs, higher prices, and the potential rollback of federal EV tax credits.
  

Tesla Tops American-Made Index, But EV Leadership Is Broadening

Tesla remains at the top of the American-made automotive pyramid, but it’s no longer driving the electric vehicle (EV) revolution alone. According to the newly released 2025 American-Made Index (AMI) from Cars.com, electric vehicles took six of the top 10 spots, a compelling signal that the EV transition in the U.S. is accelerating beyond just one automaker.

This year, Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y, Model X, and Model S claimed the top four positions on the list, thanks to their domestic assembly in Texas and California and a high percentage of U.S. content. Yet the biggest story lies in who followed them: Kia and Volkswagen, with their respective EV6 and ID.4, proved that international automakers can score high on “Made in America” rankings through strategic localization.

EVs Rise Beyond Just Tesla: Kia and Volkswagen Step In

The Kia EV6, built in West Point, Georgia, stunned analysts by ranking sixth in the AMI — and more notably, it now includes 80% U.S. and Canadian parts, the highest of any vehicle in the country. This detail has redefined what it means for a car to be “American made,” especially in the electric segment.

Likewise, the Volkswagen ID.4, assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, rounded out the 10th position. These brands, though global in origin, are now reshaping local EV supply chains to align with U.S. industrial policy — and consumer demand.

This marks a departure from earlier years when Tesla was the sole EV representative in the AMI’s top tier. In 2024, only eight battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) made the cut. In 2025, that number has climbed to 11 fully electric models, plus an additional 19 hybrids and plug-in hybrids, according to Cars.com.

EV Presence in the 2025 American-Made Index

Cars.com American-Made Index 2025

AMI Methodology: How American Is Your Car?

The Cars.com index evaluates vehicles based on five weighted criteria:

1. Final assembly location
   
2. Percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts
   
3. Origin of engine
   
4. Origin of transmission
   
5. Size of U.S. manufacturing workforce
   

In total, nearly 400 vehicles from the 2025 model year were evaluated, resulting in 99 qualifying entries. Notably, heavy-duty models like the Tesla Cybertruck or Rivian R1S are excluded from eligibility.

The AMI score reflects industrial contribution, not branding. For example, a foreign automaker like Kia can score higher than legacy U.S. brands if the vehicle is physically built in America and uses a greater share of domestic components.

More Than Symbolism: Electrification Is Now Strategy

The expanded EV presence on the index isn’t a PR stunt. It reflects supply chain reality. EV adoption is being driven by more than just emissions targets — it now intersects with labor, trade, and national manufacturing policy.

“The industry’s push for electrification wasn’t mere lip service,” noted Cars.com in its report — a direct response to criticism that EV growth had stalled or become too dependent on Chinese materials and platforms. By localizing EV assembly and parts sourcing, automakers are aligning with both consumer preferences and federal policy incentives.

However, this shift could be challenged. A proposed Senate tax and budget bill aims to eliminate federal EV tax credits and increase tariffs on Chinese battery materials. This move could raise prices and stall demand, especially for EVs below the luxury tier.

Federal Headwinds: Could Policy Undermine Progress?

The AMI’s findings arrive just as federal policy may change the calculus for EV makers. The federal EV tax credit — up to $7,500 for qualifying models — has played a crucial role in keeping consumer prices competitive. But its future is now uncertain.

New proposals aim to phase out the credit for vehicles made with Chinese minerals, especially lithium and cobalt. The Biden administration’s latest tariff policy already imposes up to 100% duties on certain EV imports from China, including components and raw materials.

These changes could force automakers to rebuild supply chains again, this time shifting from Asia to South America, Africa, or even domestic mining in the U.S. The short-term effect may be slower EV adoption and higher vehicle prices.

EV Market Shifting from Experiment to Mainstream

What was once seen as a niche luxury market has now entered the mainstream. With 11 BEVs and 19 hybrid/plug-in hybrids on the 2025 AMI list, the American car market has shifted. The question is no longer if EVs can compete — it’s how fast their supply chains can scale to meet both demand and regulatory complexity.

Tesla may still lead in performance and brand power, but its domination of the American-made segment now shares space with well-positioned global automakers who are investing deeply in U.S. production infrastructure.

Final Thoughts: American EVs Are No Longer Just American Brands

The 2025 American-Made Index signals a new industrial reality: being “American made” is now as much about location and labor as it is about ownership. With international players like Kia and Volkswagen building high-content EVs on U.S. soil, the index becomes both a measure of economic value and a window into the future of auto manufacturing.

If tariffs, tax credit policy, or material shortages emerge as roadblocks, the pace of EV growth may slow. But the momentum is clear — the EV era in America has broadened beyond just Tesla.