Political Crossfire Forums

I have seen Toyota signs claiming their USA assembled vehicles as being more than 90% made in USA.

The cost of a vehicle to the producer or importer is not the same as the price to the retail purchaser. I suspect Toyota’s claimed extent of their USA assembled vehicles “made in the USA” portion is justified by sophistry.
I believe they are based upon the production costs of the vehicles plus many non-production costs.

Merchandising, warranty support, dealers’ preparation services and product distribution within the USA are increase costs to the vehicle dealers but similar to such products as extended warranty insurance) and the dealer may itemize some of these value added products upon their sales invoices, but they are not vehicle production or production supporting costs.

Many tasks require geographic proximity and many others benefit from such proximity.
I have noticed foreign nations of origin and/or words and symbols on even USA assembled vehicles. I have doubts as to what portions of those vehicles' components and materials are derived from USA rather than foreign labor. I question Toyota’s claim that their USA assembled vehicles are actually over 90% USA made.

Respectfully, Supposn

You believe and have doubts. Ok, got any stats to back it up?

I do know the cost of living in Japan is approx 25% higher than the US is on average, so the labor force in the US should come at a savings to Japanese automakers. At least it would appear so at first blush.

http://fortune.com/2015/06/29/cars-made-in-america/

in order to be considered "made in america" for this list, 75% of parts must be actually made in america

Back when we made what we used, the economy was strong. Now that we don't, its not. World trade is fine, where we screwed up is we sent the entire factory instead of just the product. The only question left is how far down does our standards have to go before we achieve the status of world class?

Yea, Toyota def is not lying because there is a litany of trade agreement, multilateral and bilateral, that strictly lay out rules for nation of origin and requisite content levels. Long story short Toyota would have been sued by some scheming lawyer if they were claiming American made when it wouldn't be designated that way under the relevant agreements.

Most stuff that says made in USA is really made in USA. US is the words largest and most mature market. It's not hard to source 75% of parts or do final assembly in a continental market of 300 million.