Toyota: The Most American Car Company (2009, best, truck, buy)

[Epik151]

http://www.businessinsider.com...009-7

A new study from Cars.com sheds light on the absurdity of thinking cars have a "nationality."
When you consider that even a post-bailout GM will expand its use of foreign labor, it shouldn't be that hard to understand how an "American" car isn't really so, just because its maker was founded in Detroit.

And more generally, there seems to be little reason to think that American cars are really more American in any metrics that matter: Namely, labor and parts inputs.

According to the new survey, the most American car in America is the Toyota Camry, containing the highest percentage of American inputs, even surpassing the Ford F-150. Actually, Toyota utterly dominates the top 10 list, with a Honda thrown in for good measure.

Now some might object to this, saying that even though these cars are "made-in-America", the value still flows overseas, but really, even that's not right. Toyota still pays taxes in America. Its stock is traded in the US, and is no doubt owned by individual retail accounts and mutual funds.

If you insist on coming up with some definition of "American" that limits that moniker to the Big Three, we suppose it's this: Only Chrysler, Ford and GM have the political clout to win a bailout if needed. We really can't imagine Toyota or Honda receiving so much political support. Of course, this is a circular definition that still doesn't say much, but it's the best you can do.

[AlfredB1979]

I love the overseas profit argument. No, it's not entirely true (ask any bonus-earning US employee as that is profit earned) and when GM and Ford aren't making a profit in the home market, one wonders about that argument...

[JTraik]

Nope, no thanks. I already have a truck far more American than that thing.

[trlhiker]

Just remember, when you buy the big American GM or Ford or Dodge truck, most of the profit goes to the companies CEO's multi million dollar paycheck. So are you really supporting America when you do that?

[Checkered24]

A couple years ago, a report came out about the number of American jobs created by each "sale" from a number of major automakers. GM's was something like 23 people employed (either directly by GM or indirectly by dealers, parts suppliers, shippers, etc) for each new car sold. Wish I could find the link, but I forget what publication it was in.

That's not the only way to judge either since you could argue there is some unneeded fat in that figure. Still, if your looking at impact on the job market, it would be one barometer.

On the flip side, Toyota has done a lot to have a large footprint in the US in terms of manufacturing.

[djmilf]

"Toyota: the Most American Car Company"

Actually...no.

It might behoove you to actually read the Cars.com article instead of simply posting a link that you mistakenly believe supports your prejudices.

[deepcynic]

I buy the best car available, regardless of 'nationality'. It is called voting with your pocketbook.

If the "American" car companies want my vote, they have to learn to build the cars I want.