This year, six electric cars made the top 10 for the first time in Cars.com’s long-running index, which evaluates cars based on criteria like domestic part sourcing and U.S.-based assembly.
According to Cars.com, “knowing what’s made here and what that really means has never been more important.” This development coincides with the planned U.S. conversion to electric vehicles encountering some significant roadblocks.
Having a “majority electric” top 10 for the first time is significant, but only to a certain extent, according to the main researcher for Cars.com’s 2025 American-Made Index.
“I wouldn’t want to suggest that this is the turning point at which electric vehicles would replace cars. That assertion seems a tad overly ambitious. However, it does draw attention to the fact that, indeed, completely electric models are being produced here and may be available for purchase from nearby vendors, according to researcher Patrick Masterson. “I don’t assume that shoppers know that, are fully aware of that.”
As can be seen in the table below, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) models took the top four positions, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4 (XE:VOW3) at number ten and the Kia EV6 (KR:000270) at number six.
Tesla models have held the top rank and done well overall in the index for a number of years running. According to Cars.com, the EV6 is new this year since it is now put together at the Kia factory in West Point, Georgia.
According to MarketWatch’s archives (June 2022), Tesla takes the top spot in the Cars.com rankings for consecutive years. The American-Made Index
2025’s top ten American-made automobiles
Numerous groups offer yearly rankings of the most American-made automobile models. In December, the Kogod School of Business at American University released a list that was dominated by EVs.
Because the Trump administration put fresh 25% tariffs on the automobile industry this year, people are becoming more curious about how much of their vehicles are built in the United States. All cars that are not built in the United States are subject to these import tariffs, as are several auto parts that are imported from other nations. It is anticipated that they will raise the cost of new cars by hundreds of dollars.
“There’s a lot of openness to actually paying a higher price, and I think some acceptance that prices are going up,” Cars.com analyst David Greene stated. According to him, 55% of over 1,000 consumers surveyed this month by Cars.com stated they would be willing to spend extra for a car if it resulted in the creation of jobs in the United States.
Greene also highlighted an issue that has been raised by numerous analysts: since most cars costing $30,000 or less are imported, the additional tariffs have put “a very difficult situation for someone who’s seeking affordability right now.” Only two of the eighteen such vehicles, he added, are produced in the United States.
Steve Man, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said the higher tariffs would benefit Tesla and other EV-only manufacturers like Rivian (RIVN) and Lucid (LCID). Shortly after the responsibilities were revealed, he told MarketWatch that these businesses have a very different business strategy than traditional automakers since they are considerably more vertically integrated. This implies that they manufacture a lot more parts themselves, particularly the more expensive ones.
Large EV speed bumps
EVs are having issues on other fronts, despite their strong performance in rankings of the most “made in the USA” vehicles.
Internal BofA data, according to analysts at the Bank of America Institute last week, indicates a significant decline in consumer loan originations for new EVs in recent months, though some of it may be attributable to a rise in leasing for these cars. According to a research by the experts, loan originations in May were over 80% lower than the May 2022 average.
“Looking further ahead, BofA Global Research expects the next four years will be the most uncertain and volatile time ever for EV product strategy, with implied EV penetration rates for the next few years about half of what was estimated last year,” they stated.
One American company that has been severely impacted by the lower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles is the rental car network Hertz (HTZ). The company’s intention to sell off its EV fleet was broadened a year ago.
President Donald Trump’s rejection of former President Joe Biden’s support for the electric vehicle industry has significantly altered Washington’s position on the subject. Earlier this month, Trump connected his administration’s attempts to lessen support for electric vehicles to his deteriorating relationship with billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The GOP version of the tax and spending megabill would essentially eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for EV customers that has been anticipated for months by Trump and legislative Republicans. After passing the House, the bill is currently being considered by the Senate.
