Do You Know How to Buy American?

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Catskill Mountains, NY

Today, CNNMoney.com reported on the topic of buying American. The benefits are obvious, you can support an American industry that has employed millions over the last hundred some odd years. However, with the Ford Fusion being built in Mexico and the Toyota Camry at a plant in Kentucky, it is not hard to figure out why buying American made isn’t as straightforward as it was once upon a time.

Let’s go back to the Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry example mentioned earlier. Most Americans would assume that because Ford is an American company, one of the “Big 3” in Detroit, that would make it the best choice for buying American. Well, the irony about this situation is that in all actuality the Toyota Camry has 80% of its parts from U.S. sources, which is in contrast to the Ford Fusion which has 50% of its parts come from U.S. sources. As a rule, most Ford cars sold to American’s are built in the U.S., but the Fusion being an exception makes it difficult for most consumers to keep track, especially when the Fusion has turned the mid-size car market around for Ford.

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD

Some other examples include the Toyota Sienna and Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra and Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro. In the above scenarios, the Toyotas are built more by U.S. parts and the Ford Mustang has more U.S. parts than the new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. What does all this mean? Well, I tend to agree with CNN writer Peter Valdes-Dapena when he say “In the end American consumers will tend to do what they've always done and simply shop for the best car at the best price, regardless of where it's designed or made. Ultimately that may be the best for everyone, pushing American car companies to compete globally by making better cars.”

Bottom line—economists say that it is still better for the U.S. economy if you buy from an American car company because they still employee more Americans than any of the foreign automakers. So if you buy American, then you are helping the American car companies stay in business. The question that is left for you the consumer to answer is: Would you chose American over Foreign even if it isn’t the best car, price or quality?

Be sure to check out our other recent stories here at AllSmallCars.com like Mazda Kiyora Concept Coming To 2009 Tokyo Motor Show or another green story like While Other Car Prices Are Going Down, the Toyota Prius Is Going Up.

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