Trump wants tax breaks on American-made cars. Do you own one of the 'most American'?

From tariff threats and proposed tax-deductible interest on loans for American-made cars, President Donald Trump has planned sweeping changes to push domestic auto production.

"I also want to make interest payments on car loans tax deductible, but only if the car is made in America," Trump said during his recent address to Congress. "And by the way, we're going to have growth in the auto industry like nobody's ever seen."

During his first address since returning to the White House, Trump's comment echoed the one he made on the campaign trail in October, wooing voters with the idea of tax breaks on auto loans — but only if the vehicle is built in America.

On Tuesday outside the White House, Trump played influencer-in-chief for Elon Musk, billionaire CEO of Tesla, as he marveled at a cherry red Model S and sat in the driver's seat after revealing a day earlier on TruthSocial he'd purchase it to support the beleaguered Tesla company which in recent days has seen stocks plummet.

The only problem? All cars — even the Tesla Model S — have at least some parts that are sourced internationally, meaning no cars are truly "made in America."

Here's what to know about the "most American" cars in the nation. Do you own one?

Are any cars made in America?

Nearly 60% of Americans polled by Cars.com say they want to buy American-made vehicles — and that poll took place before Trump's went into office for the second time.

But even the most-American vehicles aren't even considered "Made in USA." In fact, in order to advertise as such, a product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S., according to the Federal Trade Commission.

"Even for the most American-made vehicle, you're still looking at 30% worth of parts that are not produced here," said Patrick Masterson, Cars.com's lead researcher who oversees the index. "Assembly, that part of the process, can happen here. But the parts, the raw materials like steel and aluminum, that sort of thing, would be harder to source entirely from the U.S."

Top 'most American' cars

Cars.com ranked 2024 model year vehicles based on the following criteria: assembly location, parts content, engine origin, transmission origin and U.S. manufacturing workforce.

Texas-based all-electric automaker Tesla tops the chart this year as the "most American" for its Model Y, according to Cars.com, but the remaining fleet of vehicles dropped from top spots on the automotive industry website's list from 2023.

Tesla locked the top four spots in Cars.com's list in 2023 for the "most American" cars, but its Model S sedan — the one purchased by Trump Tuesday — dropped to the fourth spot, while the Model X SUV was ninth.

1. Tesla Model Y (SUV): Assembled in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas
2. Honda Passport (SUV): Assembled in Lincoln, Alabama
3. Volkswagen ID.4 (SUV): Assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Tesla Model S (sedan): Assembled in Fremont, California
5. Honda Odyssey (minivan), assembled in Lincoln, Alabama
6. Honda Ridgeline (pickup truck): Assembled in Lincoln, Alabama
7. Toyota Camry (sedan): Assembled in Georgetown, Kentucky
8. Jeep Gladiator (pickup truck): Assembled in Toledo, Ohio
9. Tesla Model X (SUV): Assembled in Fremont, California
10. Lexus TX (SUV): Assembled in Princeton, Indiana

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team