September 15, 2026

Tesla tops 2026 American-Made Index again, but two familiar models are gone

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Tesla has once again claimed the top spots in the annual Cars.com American-Made Index. The appearance at the top of the podium marks the sixth consecutive year that a Tesla has been named the most American-made vehicle.

However, this year’s results look noticeably different from previous editions.

In 2025, Tesla occupied the top four spots with the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X. That streak has come to an end after Tesla discontinued production of the Model S and Model X earlier this year. Both vehicles had been mainstays of the index since Tesla first participated in 2020, regularly appearing in the top 10 and helping the automaker sweep the podium.

With those two models no longer eligible, Tesla’s presence at the top has been reduced to just the Model 3 and Model Y, opening the door for other manufacturers to move up the rankings.

According to Cars.com, the Fremont-built Model 3 once again secured first place, while the Model Y, assembled in both Fremont and Austin, took second. Rounding out the top five were the Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Honda Ridgeline.

Unlike previous years, there are no other Tesla vehicles in the top 10. The Cybertruck is once again absent, not because of its manufacturing footprint, but because it falls outside the Federal Highway Administration’s definition of a light-duty passenger vehicle used for the index. The same classification excludes the Rivian R1T.

Cars.com analyzed 379 model-year 2026 vehicles, with only 86 qualifying for the final rankings, down from 99 vehicles in 2025. The publication noted that several other highly ranked EVs have disappeared, also due to discontinuations, including the Volkswagen ID.4, which had previously reached as high as third place.

Top 10 Most American-Made Vehicles for 2026

  1. Tesla Model 3
  2. Tesla Model Y
  3. Jeep Gladiator
  4. Jeep Grand Cherokee
  5. Honda Ridgeline
  6. Honda Odyssey
  7. Lexus TX 350
  8. Honda Accord
  9. Acura MDX
  10. Honda Passport

You can see the full list at Cars.com.

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