Made in America Auto Index — 2017 Research by Frank Dubois
What percentage of your vehicle's value contributes to the overall well-being of the U.S. economy and why does this information matter to you?
Kogod's 2017 Made in America Auto Index seeks to answer these questions by evaluating the domestic content of vehicles sold in the US. The index takes into account other aspects of vehicle manufacturing that are not accounted for in other measures.
Seven criteria are considered, including profit margin, labor, and research and development location, among others.
Why is the Index important?
The manufacture and sale of automobiles is a significant component of the U.S. economy. In 2016, the auto industry directly employed approximately 2.5 million workers and generated a record 17.5 million units in total vehicle sales, accounting for approximately 3.5 percent of the U.S. GDP. This represents a slight increase over 2015 sales which was the previous record. Of the 17.5 million vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2016, approximately 65 percent were produced in the United States.
As such an important part of the U.S. economy, understanding the factors that influence the automobile industry is not just helpful—it is essential. A vehicle’s domestic manufacturing composition plays a key role in determining its overall impact on the American economy. This knowledge empowers consumers and automakers alike to make better economic decisions about where a car is made, and which offer the greatest commercial benefits to the country.
One of the first things a consumer looks at while car shopping is the price and options label.
Since the enactment of the American Automotive Labeling Act (AALA) in 1994, automakers are required to provide information on the label detailing the amount of U.S. and Canadian parts content, the country of assembly, and the engine and transmission's country of origin.
AALA data, while useful, is not the most accurate means of assessing a vehicle's contribution to the U.S. economy. It presents a number of limitations; U.S. and Canadian content are combined into one number, and automakers are allowed to round-up a part that is potentially only 70% U.S./Canadian to 100% U.S./Canadian.
Kogod's method improves on the AALA data by incorporating a more comprehensive research methodology, providing consumers with a more accurate view of their vehicle's composition.
Media Queries
For interview requests and questions about Frank DuBois’s research, please contact:
202-885-5950 | aumedia@american.edu
2017 Auto Index Results
HOW does the Index work?
The index uses seven points derived from publicly available data.
The components of the index are based on research into the economic value of different components of auto manufacturing that was done by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor Michigan. For example, the highest ranked cars are made by U.S. based manufacturers using American engines and transmissions, and a with a high AALA percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts.
The seven criteria are as follows:
- Profit Margin - This was measured based on the location of an automaker's headquarters. If an automaker's global headquarters is located in the US, the model receives a 6. If it is not, it receives a 0. The assumption here is that (on average), 6% of a vehicle's value is profit margin, so if it is a U.S. automaker, the profits remain in the country.
- Labor - This category considers where the car is assembled. If a model is assembled in the US, it receives a 6. If not, the model receives a 0. We assume that approximately 6% of the vehicle's value is labor content.
- Research and Development (R&D) - This category looks at the location of a car's R&D activities. If the model is a product of a US company, it receives a 6. If it is the product of a foreign company but is assembled in the U.S. it receives a 3; if it is a foreign import it receives a 1.
- Inventory, Capital and other expenses - If assembly occurs in the US, the model receives an 11; if not, it receives a 0.
- Engine - If the engine is produced in the US, the model receives a 14; if not it receives a 0.
- Transmission - If the transmission is produced in the US, the model receives a 7; if not it receives a 0.
- Body, Chassis, and Electrical Components - 50 % of a vehicle's score is assigned to this category. The AALA percentage is divided into two to derive this score.
Notes
Vehicle scores and rankings may depend on the different power train and trim options offered by the manufacturer. In addition the American Automotive Labeling Act score listed on the NHTSA website may differ from the score actually observed on a dealer lot. For example, the 2017 Chevrolet Colorado 4WD Z71 was observed with 60% US/Canadian content on a dealer lot. The NHTSA website however has only one listing of the Colorado with 49% US/Canadian content. Because of various errors we found with the NHTSA reports we used the observed value of 60% in our ranking. With regard to the power train, Diesel powered versions of the Colorado would feature an engine sourced from Thailand while manual transmission versions would have a Brazilian made transmission. Depending on the configuration of the vehicle the final score might range between 80 and 53.5 with a ranking from 7 to 39. As such, if Domestic content is a critical factor in the purchase decision, consumers are advised to study option choices carefully.
In 2014, Fiat acquired the outstanding shares of Chrysler. The new entity, Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA), is headquartered in the Netherlands with a tax domicile in London, and shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As such, because of the hybrid nature of its organizational structure and its large production and R&D presence in the U.S., we assigned a value of 3 for profit margin and R&D, rather than a 6 or 0.