2014 Toyota Tundra rated more American than Chevy Silverado, Ram 1500, and GMC Sierra

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If you like to buy American the 2014 Toyota Tundra should be a serious consideration when shopping for a pickup.

The Texas-built Toyota Tundra was ranked more American than both the Chevy Silverado and Dodge Ram in a recent update to the Kogod Made In America Auto Index. The index is the work of the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington D.C. We like this list because unlike some vehicle content lists, such as The American Automotive Labeling Act (AALA), it recognizes that Canada is not part of the United States.

Many shoppers like to buy American, and it would be hard to ignore the Tundra’s score of 78.5 on the Kogod list when considering American-made pickups. The Chevy Silverado and its twin the GMC Sierra both score a respectable 70 on the list. The Fiat-Chrysler made Ram 1500 scores a 63, which is well below a lot of vehicles assembled outside the US, like the Canadian built Chevy Camaro. The Ram also did a little bit better on the test this year than it will going forward because at the time of the ranking it was 41% owned by the UAW Pension Fund. The union folks didn't like owning part of the company they work for because it makes strikes confusing. (give us a huge raise - you own the company). Now Italy-based Fiat owns their share. The company that Fiat invented to own the Ram brand is explained this way by Kogod. “The new entity Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) is to be headquartered in the Netherlands with a tax domicile in London, and shares listed in New York.” Because of that it will have a slight disadvantage on future lists. Presently, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are not part of the US. Nor is Italy for that matter.

Shoppers for whom buying American is the primary motivator will love the Ford F-150. It is the number one most American made vehicle according to the folks at Kogood with a score of 87.5, and we should note, the best-selling vehicle in America.

Like all stories we print about American-ness of vehicles that don’t sound American to some ears many readers will discount this story as crazy or misleading. However, to those who like to buy pickup trucks that are built in Texas by Texans, from mostly American made parts, maybe this article will bring a slight smile.

For More Information:
Direct Link to the study
Report on the Ford F-Series being ranked number one

Submitted by Mark (not verified) on April 12, 2014 - 11:18AM

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Did they also mention that because it's a Japanese company they don't have to participate in the NAFTA program whereas American companies must outsource to spread the wealth???

I dunno what you are talking about with regard to American companies "having to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement," , but if Toyota didn't have part of its very large truck-related facility just over the border in Mexico it might have beaten the F-150.

Submitted by Juan Pelaez (not verified) on April 16, 2014 - 10:19PM

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As a salesman Have to stop selling Toyota puts little food on my table it's a shame if a buyer costumer knows how much dealers paid for selling a Toyota $50 to $100 if lucky after spending five hours And if get a good CSI !!! Sucks as a corporation!!

Juan Palaez, what you got paid at the dealership and what the dealer makes on the truck are not only variable, but also is between the dealership and you. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc does not own the dealership. Each and every dealership in the US is individually owned and operated. So if you got paid $100 for 5 hours of work, that is what is called a "Mini" in the business. I cannot comment on what your circumstances were, but I know a lot of salespeople at a lot of dealerships, who not only enjoy selling Tundras to customers because they know its an incredible product and great value, but get well compensated for doing so. If you can't make money selling a great product, then maybe you are in the wrong business or need training.

Hey Juan. I'm glad I gave you a chance to vent, but I cannot let a comment like that go unanswered (respectfully). Maybe just a bad day? I am fortunate to have readers who are Toyota and Lexus dealership employees, mostly on LinkedeIn. None have ever told me they felt the way you do. In fact, I sometimes get help from them on stories. If selling the Toyota brand is not working for you, but in fact the skills and special background you have is needed in the marketplace, I am sure you will have no problem finding a job you are happier with selling someplace else. - I was in sales for 20 years not including the retail selling I did while I was in school (gas, food, and clothes). My sales preparation included a mechanical engineering degree and 3 years of studying marketing post-graduation plus a LOT of industry week-long training seminars (SPIN selling etc). That is nothing in comparison to my good friend. In addition to a technical degree he went on to Dartmouth for three years and got an MBA. Concurrently, he went through ROTC and joined the military working his way up to company commander. He sells to companies that make things like planes and high tech equipment. His skills are highly in demand because adds considerable value to the sale. - -At my last selling job for a big company (Thermo-Fisher Sci) I took a sales training class for established salespersons (5+ years). Our customers were biopharma manufacturers. All of the candidates had something special. One of the most impressive was a medical doctor. She left medicine after her residency to move into sales. She was smoking hot and was very charismatic. That was when I realized that if the competition had her selling their products I was likely under-prepared. Best of luck. (BTW, my pal and I both started out at state schools "Zoo Mass").

Submitted by BA (not verified) on July 7, 2014 - 5:34AM

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tundras are not made in Texas, they are assembled in Texas. the frames come from mexico, most of the components are shipped in from other states and countries.

I'm not sure what you are arguing. The story says "Texas-built" in the beginning and the end. There is a direct link to the cited study at the end. Has anyone claimed that the Tundra does not use parts made in other US states? According to pickuptrucks.com the Tundra's US and Canadian content (they don't separate it) is 75%. One of the highest of any vehicle. According to Cars.com and ABC news the Tundra has 80% US content. The AALA rating of .75 (75%) is also listed in the source material. Are all these sources wrong? If so, cite your source.

BA, you have been given bad information. Tundras ARE built in San Antonio Texas. Very little gets shipped in as one of the requirement was that suppliers and vendors also were to relocate to San Antonio and set up shop right there around the plant, so instead of having to call someone three states away, they literally right there. Stamping, moulding, welding, painting. Whomever told you it was just an assembly plant, was either lying to you or ignorant. Don't be ignorant. Go take a tour of the plant in San Antonio,...then comment.

Tundra is assembled in Texas and the steel is forged in Kentucky for the motor, frame,and tranny. Tundra has a 75 pecent u.s part content. Not mexico. I think ur confused with gm or ford

i live in san antonio and have seen the plant up close, i have also done work inside the buildings while they were building the plant. i work in the eagleford and have seen the frames transported by rail coming from mexico. these frames were marked "ttmtx", not gm or ford. these pos are only assembled in texas. components and materials come in from other states and over seas.

So you've seen the inside of the plant,...because you work at Eagle Ford,...and you have seen frames transported by rail from Mexico. They are simply Marked "ttmtx" (interesting, because that doesn't match up with anything in Toyota's markings) You lost all objectivity when you said you work for Ford, and called the Tundra a "pos." You are either insanely jealous of the Tundra, or you are afraid of them. Get your facts straight, quit posting lies, and educate yourself. Ignorance is so unbecoming.