2026 American-Made Index Revealed with 65% Foreign Automakers
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 58 minutes ago
0mins
Source: PRnewswire
- High Foreign Automaker Share: The 2026 American-Made Index features 65% of vehicles from foreign automakers, while the Detroit Three hold about one-third, highlighting the complexity and diversity of American automotive manufacturing.
- Tesla Continues to Lead: Tesla's Model 3 has been ranked as the most American-made vehicle for six consecutive years, followed by the Model Y, indicating strong performance and consumer acceptance of electric vehicles in the U.S. market.
- Significant Tariff Impact: Following the implementation of tariffs in 2025, the number of vehicles on the 2026 American-Made Index has decreased to 86 from 99 in 2025, demonstrating the ongoing impact of tariffs on the automotive market and consumer purchasing decisions.
- Decline in EV Proportion: The share of electrified vehicles in the American-Made Index has dropped from 30% to 24%, with the number of EVs nearly halving, reflecting the influence of changes in federal EV tax credit policies on the market.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy CARS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on CARS
Wall Street analysts forecast CARS stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 9.950
Low
16.00
Averages
19.33
High
25.00
Current: 9.950
Low
16.00
Averages
19.33
High
25.00
About CARS
Cars.com Inc. is an audience-powered and data-driven technology platform for buying and selling cars. Its Cars.com marketplace connects consumers to dealerships across the United States, powering the car buying experience with artificial intelligence (AI) shopping tools and vehicle reviews and content. Its interconnected ecosystem of products enables dealers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to sell more cars by leveraging its marketplace, dealer websites, trade and appraisal tools and in-market media solutions. Its platform provides local dealers, OEMs, dealer groups and auto-adjacent companies with a variety of digital and media solutions to improve marketing and operations. It enables dealers and OEMs to professionally merchandise inventory to shoppers. It offers dealers with packages that include reputation management technology and digital financing tools, with additional functionality like media solutions for upper-tier packages.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- High Foreign Automaker Share: The 2026 American-Made Index reveals that 65% of the vehicles are from foreign automakers, while the Detroit Three still hold about one-third of the index, highlighting the complexity and diversity of the U.S. automotive market.
- Tesla Maintains Leadership: Tesla has claimed the top spot in the American-Made Index for the sixth consecutive year, with the Model 3 and Model Y ranking first and second respectively, indicating its strong influence and consumer preference in the U.S. market.
- Decline in EV Proportion: The share of electrified vehicles in the American-Made Index has decreased from 30% to 24%, reflecting the impact of the phasing out of the federal EV tax credit and prompting automakers to reassess their electrification strategies.
- Significant Tariff Impact: Following the implementation of tariffs in 2025, the number of vehicles in the 2026 American-Made Index has dropped from 99 to 86, demonstrating the ongoing effects of tariffs on automakers' product lines and pricing strategies, while consumer interest in American-made vehicles is rising.
See More
- High Foreign Automaker Share: The 2026 American-Made Index features 65% of vehicles from foreign automakers, while the Detroit Three hold about one-third, highlighting the complexity and diversity of American automotive manufacturing.
- Tesla Continues to Lead: Tesla's Model 3 has been ranked as the most American-made vehicle for six consecutive years, followed by the Model Y, indicating strong performance and consumer acceptance of electric vehicles in the U.S. market.
- Significant Tariff Impact: Following the implementation of tariffs in 2025, the number of vehicles on the 2026 American-Made Index has decreased to 86 from 99 in 2025, demonstrating the ongoing impact of tariffs on the automotive market and consumer purchasing decisions.
- Decline in EV Proportion: The share of electrified vehicles in the American-Made Index has dropped from 30% to 24%, with the number of EVs nearly halving, reflecting the influence of changes in federal EV tax credit policies on the market.
See More
- Cars.com Profitability Risks: With a GAAP operating margin of 9.7%, Cars.com has seen flat dealer customer numbers over the past two years, indicating a need for platform improvement or increased marketing budget, leading to a 1% annual decline in average revenue per buyer and limiting future growth potential.
- Timken Earnings Decline: Timken's GAAP operating margin stands at 12.1%, but its earnings per share have dipped by 8.6% annually over the past two years, indicating a decline in profitability and diminishing returns on capital, suggesting a need for strategic adjustments or M&A to catalyze faster growth.
- Borr Drilling Cash Flow Concerns: Borr Drilling boasts a GAAP operating margin of 29.3%, yet its revenue base of $1.05 billion has not achieved the economies of scale enjoyed by larger industry players, and cash burn raises questions about its long-term sustainable growth, with a stock price of $4.35 implying a staggering 187.9x forward P/E ratio.
- Market Opportunity Analysis: While these companies are currently profitable, their growth challenges and potential risks warrant caution from investors, who should seek alternative investment opportunities with greater growth potential.
See More
- Executive Appointment: Cars.com appointed Sarah Kettler as Chief Marketing Officer effective June 1, 2026, and granted her 86,540 restricted stock units (RSUs) on June 5, 2026, as an inducement for her hiring, reflecting the company's commitment to strengthening its executive team.
- Stock Award Structure: Of the RSUs granted, 76,924 will vest ratably over three years, while 9,616 will vest over two years, contingent upon Kettler's continued employment, ensuring alignment between executive commitment and company growth.
- Compliance Statement: The inducement award was granted under the NYSE's employee inducement exemption, complying with Rule 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, which ensures transparency in the company's compliance practices.
- Company Background: Cars.com is a trusted audience-powered and data-driven technology platform that simplifies the car buying and selling process, connecting millions of consumers to dealerships across the U.S. through AI shopping tools and comprehensive vehicle reviews, enhancing the overall car buying experience.
See More
- Executive Appointment and Inducement: On June 5, 2026, Cars.com granted 86,540 restricted stock units (RSUs) to newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Kettler as an inducement for her hiring, reflecting the company's commitment to strengthening its executive team.
- RSU Vesting Structure: Of the total RSUs granted, 76,924 will vest annually over three years, while 9,616 will vest annually over two years, ensuring Kettler's continued employment to receive these incentives, which aims to enhance her long-term commitment to the company.
- Compliance and Transparency: The inducement award was granted under the NYSE's employee inducement exemption, complying with Rule 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, ensuring the company's adherence to regulatory standards and transparency in executive compensation.
- Company Background and Market Positioning: Cars.com operates as a data-driven technology platform that simplifies the car buying and selling process, connecting millions of consumers with dealerships across the U.S. through AI shopping tools and comprehensive vehicle reviews, highlighting its significant role in the automotive market.
See More
- Executive Appointment: Cars.com announced the appointment of Sarah Kettler as Chief Marketing Officer, effective June 15, 2026, tasked with overseeing integrated marketing and communications to enhance brand impact and drive long-term strategic objectives.
- Rich Market Experience: During her tenure as Executive Vice President of Marketing at SeatGeek, Kettler built a performance marketing engine that doubled consumer awareness, strengthened platform value for buyers and sellers, and drove sustained growth, showcasing her capabilities in a competitive market.
- Strategic Vision: CEO Tobi Hartmann stated that Kettler's experience is precisely what the company needs at this critical juncture, as she can translate brand strategy into real business growth, further solidifying the company's position as the most trusted auto marketplace.
- Technology-Driven Growth: Kettler emphasized that while AI and technology are rapidly changing marketing approaches, the core mission of Cars.com remains to deliver confident shopping experiences for consumers and enable efficient growth for dealers and OEMs, reflecting her confidence in future developments.
See More







