#266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index

#266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index

Author: Michael Kahn August 2, 2023 Duration: 33:20
Buying a vehicle made in the United States is essential to many consumers. According to Cars.com, about half of the car buyers in the United States say they will pay more for a vehicle that creates U.S. jobs. Additionally, 24 percent of Americans believe a manufacturer has to be headquartered in the U.S. to qualify as "substantially contributing to the U.S. economy." Tesla holds the top four places in the 18th annual American-Made Index announced by Cars.com. Jenni Newman, the editor-in-chief of cars.com, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. We discuss consumers' preferences for cars made in the United States. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is away this week, so I interview Newman, a repeat guest, about the online publication's 18th annual American-Made Index (AMI). The index independently evaluates and ranks the highest-contributing vehicles to the U.S. economy for manufacturing, parts sourcing and employment. The Honda Odyssey is a mainstay on the American-Made Index announced recently by Cars.com. Image © James Raia/2016. Newman speaks to the methodology behind the compilation of the list, the disconnect between consumer understanding and the American-made automotive market. This year, the AMI consideration set comprises 388 vehicles. Only 100 made the cut with Tesla sweeping the first four spots, joined at the top by mainstay Honda and returning Acura. Volkswagen is debuting in the Index’s top 10. Here's the list, Nos. 1-10 on this year's AMI list: Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model S, Honda Passport, Volkswagen ID.4, Honda Odyssey, Acura MDX, Honda Ridgeline, Acura RDX. Please join me as Newman and I examine the AMI list and further discuss its relevance in today's automotive marketplace. All of the cars.com podcasts: #266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index #224, Cars.com editor reports on EVs, NY Auto Show #202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs #200, Few Carmakers Get Top Grades in Car Seat Installation

Every seven days, The Weekly Driver Podcast pulls off the main road for a conversation that’s about more than just horsepower and torque. With James Raia and Bruce Aldrich behind the wheel, the discussion travels through the entire landscape of car culture, from the latest industry news and in-depth vehicle documentaries to the personal stories and societal shifts that happen on four wheels. This isn't a dry specs sheet or a simple review show. Instead, you’ll hear thoughtful commentary on how automobiles intersect with our leisure, history, and daily lives, uncovering narratives that often go unnoticed. The hosts’ long-running partnership brings a comfortable, informed dynamic to each episode, whether they’re debating a headline, analyzing a classic car’s legacy, or sharing an unexpected find from a local show. Tune in for a ride that treats the automotive world as a living, breathing character full of fascinating detours and destinations. The journey is different each time you listen to this podcast, but it’s always driven by a genuine passion for the stories found in the driver’s seat.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Weekly Driver Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#152, Jonathan Pierce of Harman gives good sound advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:16
The next time you hear the quality of the auto system in your vehicle, it's likely Johnathan Pierce of Harman had something to do with it. Pierce, Senior Manager of Global Experiential R&D for Car Audio at Harman, leads…
#149, #150: The Weekly Driver Podcast celebrates 3 years (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:24
The Weekly Driver Podcast debuted in September 2017. Bruce Aldrich and I had already been working together on automotive YouTube videos and attending car shows together for several years. A podcast seemed like an ideal n…
#147, Electrify America debuts new coast-to-coast route [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:54
Driving across the United States in an electric vehicle takes planning and patience. For car owners driving an EV or considering a green car alternative, the challenge has been simplified. Electrify America recently anno…
#146, Carmel (Ind.) mayor Jim Brainard has city in circles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:16
Jim Brainard has a law degree, but he's spent the past quarter-century thinking about circles. It's a compliment, and it's likely the reason why Carmel, Indiana is internationally famous. The mayor of the 102,000-populat…
#145, Author unloads on Takata in new Killer Airbags book [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:17
Jerry W. Cox has a stark warning for the driving public. He says 12 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads have defective Takata-made airbags that still have not been replaced. Cox, a former consultant for the now-defunct…
#144, Rolls-Royce is back with a wicked ghost of a machine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
Rolls-Royce has long represented elegance and sophistication in automobiles most often named after ghosts. There have been years of exception. Used Rolls-Royce models, particularly in the company's native England, were h…
#141, 2021 Ford Bronco debuts; Hagerty expert praises icon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
Nearly a quarter-century after it was last made, the new Ford Bronco makes its debut today (July 13) with as much anticipation as any new vehicle in recent memory. Often cited as the first Sport Utility Vehicle, the Bron…
#140, RV expert Chuck Woodbury discusses Covid-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:48
Chuck Woodbury has traveled in his motorhome for as long as two years at a time. He recently returned to his Washington state home from a seven-month RV trip that began as an expected far shorter journey. It quickly chan…
#136, Prof. Brian Marks talks cars, Covid-19 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:48
Brian Marks is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. He has a Ph.D. in Economics, a law degree, several additional titles and plenty of…
#134, Vermont artist Chris Miller’s stone truck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
Chris Miller, a sculptor who lives Maples Corner, a hamlet outside Calais, Vermont, began carving about 45 years ago. He works in granite, wood and marble, and his work is featured in private collections and sculpture ga…