% Domestic

[IamIan]

Just felt like sharing for those who don't already know ... the U.S. tracks and publicly reports on passenger cars about a lot of things ... one of them is the % that they are domestic.

AALA

So whatever your interest might be ... more domestic economic benefit ... or, reducing the transportation impact of your next car's manufacture ... etc ... this is a far more accurate way to know how domestic a specific car might be than just making assumptions by who the OEM is... especially in today's global economy where most large car companies are multi-national companies.

Some examples from 2011:
Ford's Sport Trac is 90% domestic , but it's Fiesta is only 10% domestic.
Chrysler's Dodge Dakota is 84% domestic, but it's Fiat 500 is only 11% domestic.
Toyota's Tunda is 80% domestic , but it's Lexus Es350 is 0% domestic.
GM's Savana is 80% domestic , but it's Saab 9-3 Convertible is 1% domestic.
Honda's Accord is 80% domestic, but it's CR-Z is 0% domestic.

[Daox]

I was looking at a new Focus about a month ago and noticed that the stickers (like the EPA sticker) has % of foreign parts on it. It was really cool to see that info on new cars.

[War_Wagon]

Neat find, thanks for posting it.

[IamIan]

I hope the general public absorbs this kind of information when they go to make a choice ... I know a lot of people who just over generalize for the car OEM as a whole ... if buying local / domestic has value it is best for people to be armed with this kind of real information , instead of OEM generalizations.

Of course local / domestic is of course only one aspect among many contributing to what vehicle someone chooses... but I thought it is nice that it is that easy to determine the domestic % ... I recall 15+ years ago it was not nearly so easy ... its a good thing to see the progress in available information.

[cfg83]

IamIan -

Is there a way to get info on previous years?

CarloSW2

[IamIan]

Originally Posted by cfg83

IamIan -

Is there a way to get info on previous years?

CarloSW2

The link in my opening post for the AALA goes back to 2005 model year cars... Is that previous enough?

If you are going back further than that ... I do not know of as easy to click type of method / source as that AALA link from above.

The AALA ( American Automobile Labeling Act ) that started the % Domestic requirement effects any vehicle made after October 1 of 1994 ... so the % domestic had to be available , but I don't know if it always had to be labeled on the new car like it does today ... Initially it might have just needed to be available if asked for , like McDonalds Nutrition information ... so back to then the information should be out there somewhere ... even if not as easy as the point and click back to 2005 on the previous link.

Although even as far back as the 1980's I remember my uncle who was really big on 'Buying American' did the leg work for a few vehicles he was considering ... I don't know everything he went through ... but he used to joke he could have built the car in the amount of time it took him to get a straight answer... He was a mechanical engineering and might have had a few contacts the average person would not have had... and researching for 'buying American' was a regular hobby of his... so I suspect that anything prior to the AALA would have required a lot of hassle.

[cfg83]

IamIan -

Ok, 1994 would mean that the data is "out there" for what I want, but it might not be compiled. I wanted to see what my 1999 SW2 content was. As with you, I don't remember if the % domestic was mandatory on my factory sticker or not. I wasn't looking for it back then because a domestic auto maker was "good enough" for me.

CarloSW2

[IamIan]

Originally Posted by cfg83

IamIan -

Ok, 1994 would mean that the data is "out there" for what I want, but it might not be compiled. I wanted to see what my 1999 SW2 content was. As with you, I don't remember if the % domestic was mandatory on my factory sticker or not. I wasn't looking for it back then because a domestic auto maker was "good enough" for me.

CarloSW2

Best of luck ... if you find it ... compiled or not , please share ... historic / archive data from further back would be interesting .

[Old Mechanic]

The wifes New 1999 Maxima was 95% Japanese and 5% other. I would assume the other was tires. Purchased new in the spring of 99 as a close out model for $17800. Daughter still has it, one of the best cars I ever owned. Only had one dud tire that was not completely round.

Dang 5% other parts .

Took 40k to wear out those tires, finally with new Michelins it rode better that it ever did new.

regards
Mech

[LUVMY02CREW]

Originally Posted by IamIan

Best of luck ... if you find it ... compiled or not , please share ... historic / archive data from further back would be interesting .

IamIam...thanks for the link!

I searched a good bit last night and couldn't find any data about previous years.

There were several articles that mentioned the required labeling, but no data on previous years.

SO....if anyone does find old info....please share.