The Dodge Ram pickup truck is an American icon. But Toyota trucks are iconic in their own right. While both the Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra are assembled in the United States, you might say one is more American-made than the other.
Where is the Ram 1500 made?
Ram 1500 on the assembly line | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
RAM is part of the international Stellantis corporation. Stellantis manufactures the 2022 Ram 1500 pickup truck in Sterling Heights, Michigan. But because many of the Ram’s components are not manufactured in the United States, the truck is not officially made in the USA.
Due to the American Automobile Labeling Act, Ram must print what percent of each truck’s parts come from the USA/Canada on the window sticker of that truck. Thanks to this law, we know that only 59% of the components of the 2021 Ram 1500 were manufactured in either the USA or Canada.
Because Ram uses a relatively low percentage of USA/Canadian parts, Cars.com ranks its fifth-generation pickup truck as less American-made than full-size competitors such as the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Tundra.
The Kogod School of Business has its own American-made vehicle ranking. Because Ram is headquartered in the United States, Kogod gave the Ram 1500 bonus points for doing research and development domestically and for keeping profits local. According to Kogod, the 2021 Ram 1500 Classic (Ram’s fourth-generation sold as a fleet truck) optioned with the 3.6L V6 is slightly more American-made than the Toyota Tundra.
That said, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) merged with Peugeot to create Stellantis in 2021. Will this development change the 2022 Ram 1500’s Kogod ranking? We’ll have to wait to find out.
How much of the Toyota Tundra is made in America?
2022 Toyota Tundra rolling off the assembly line | Toyota
Cars.com labeled the Toyota Tundra the most American-made full-size pickup truck.
Since 2006, Toyota has been assembling its full-size Tundra pickup truck in San Antonio Texas. The Texas complex houses the Toyota factory as well as multiple component manufacturers. With this infrastructure, Toyota makes 65% of the 2021 Tundra’s parts in the USA/Canada.
For this reason, Cars.com labeled the Toyota Tundra the most American-made full-size pickup truck.
The Kogod School of Business disagrees. When it adjusts the Tundra’s score for Toyota being headquartered abroad, the truck’s ranking drops considerably. According to Kogod, the Tundra loses out the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 Classic. But even the Kogod ranking rates the Toyota Tundra as more American-made than the current generation of the Ram 1500.
For the 2022 model year, Toyota rolled out an all-new Tundra, with a new powertrain. We’ll have to wait to see whether this new truck has as high a percentage of American-made components.
What’s the least American-made truck
United States flag | Joshua Hoehne via Unsplash
Everyone agrees that the 2021 Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra pickup trucks are more American-made than some competitors.
For example, according to Cars.com both the Ram 1500 and the Tundra are more American-made than the hybrid Ford F-150, the Nissan Titan, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the GMC Sierra.
Cars.com adds that both trucks have a less American-made cousin: at least some of the Toyota Tacomas and Ram 1500 Classics are assembled in Mexico. While both trucks were once among the most American-made, they have fallen to the last two spots on the Cars.com list.
According to the Kogo ranking, several specs of truck are even less American-made than the Ram. The turbodiesel-equipped Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are both slightly less American-made. Finally, the Toyota Titan actually ties with the Ram 1500 for most American-made.
You can watch NBC’s investigation into American-made vehicles in the video below:
Keyword: Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra More American-Made Than the Ram 1500?