You are the one questioning...it doesn't seem unfair to me for you to have to offer some substantiation to back up your comments but Ok...

I don't really care what someone posted here...here is the direct link to the NHTSA's recored for 2008 models... http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT.../AALA2008p.pdf

You can check for yourself to see if I missed any but I found a total of nine vehicles made in the US/Canada with NA parts content below 50% (comprised of four transplant nameplates, one domestic nameplate); there were...

Honda CR-V at 10%
BMWAG X6 at 25%
BMW AG X5 at 30%
BMW AG Z4 at 30%
Chrysler LLC Dodge Journey at 35%
Chrysler LLC PT Cruiser at 35%
Hyundai Sonata at 37%
Hyundai Sant Fe at 39%
Toyota Motor CamryHV at 45%

 

Actually it was your original assertion that nameplates are all that matters around here and that the gap in North American parts content was virtually non-existant.

At any rate, because I am at work I don't have access to all the links and sites you might present, I can only recall the percentages that Scott gave not too long ago here. My guess is that these percentages reflected each company's total vehicle output around the world, and not just what is for sale in the U.S., which would demonstrate each company's "true commitment" to, and impact on, North American based parts/suppliers and the economy here.

 

I'm all for tax cuts, but I don't think that's the answer. We can't continue to discount our products, or even our infrastructure. I.e. to enjoy police/fire/ems, roads, schools, healthcare, social security etc, you get to pay $xxxx less this year because you bought an American car (which probably came with a huge discount too).

Rather, I say tariff the hell out of foreign car imports.. It will encourage domestic production and parts content, and bring in needed tax revenue. American shoppers are value-driven, and if you widen the gap in pricing between foreign and domestic, people will buy domestic again. Foreign cars will once again become the toys of the wealthy. Unfortunately, there are several trade organizations that would not agree with me

 

If you want to go with what you remember Scott posted, that's up to you...I prefer to look at raw data and unless you think the NHTSA is lying, I'd say they are a good place to get that data.

It's reasonable to expect that vehicles made outside of the U.S./Canada will have a virtually non-existent NA parts content (the "domestics" have vehicles in that category as well) but if you are talking about vehicles made in North America; the transplants acquit themselves quite well...yes, GM/Ford/Chrysler as a whole do better than foreign nameplates but if you are looking for huge gaps; you won't find them and the gaps that do exist are narrowing.

As to such parts content figures representing any company's "true commitment" to North American suppliers; if you think that any multinational, including General Motors, is committed to anything but making a profit (regardless of where the profit comes from) then you aren't looking at reality.

 

Great idea! I've been thinking the same thing for a long time. Let's just make it easy and say, tax incentives for automotive purchases from either GM, Ford, or Chrysler......It's pretty simple folks, these are the companies we speak of, when we say the big 3! These are the companies that have helped pull US through tough times, all throughout history. There are all kinds of things working against these 3 companies........which are doing the exact opposite for the transplants!!! IMHO this would level up the playing field a little....It's only fair. If so many of the people, don't feel they owe something to these American ICONS....then surely the gov't should, and does! Considering history, we " The People" might NOT be here today.