Skip to main content

The full-size pickup truck is an icon of the U.S.A., as American as apple pie. But an increasing number of pickups are being assembled south of the border. GM and Ram both build some of their full-size half-ton pickup trucks in Mexico. But the Ford F-150, and the Super Duty trucks, are all assembled in the United States. The only Ford truck assembled in Mexico is the compact Maverick.

Where does Ford make its full-size pickup trucks?

Every Ford F-150 is assembled in either Dearborn, Michigan, or Kansas City. Ford’s Super Duty trucks are assembled in either Avon Lake, Ohio, or Louisville, Kentucky.

A woman assembles a Ford F-150 full-size half-ton pickup truck door at the Dearborn plant in the U.S.A.
F-150 production at Dearborn plant | Ford

Where a truck is made is a complex question. The American Automobile Labeling Act requires every new half-ton truck display its location of assembly on its sticker window. It must also share what percentage of its components originate from either the U.S.A. or Canada. This law does not apply to heavy-duty trucks, such as the Ford Super Duty.

At least 50% of every Ford F-150’s parts originate from either the U.S. or Canada. For example, the 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 is built in Canada. But some parts, such as the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, come from Mexico.

Ford assembles its midsize Ranger pickup truck in Wayne, Michigan. But the compact, unibody Maverick hails from Hermosillo, Mexico.

Which full-size pickup trucks are made in Mexico?

All heavy-duty Ram trucks (and Ram vans) are assembled in Saltillo, Mexico. Some Ram 1500 Classics come from the same factory. Some of GM’s half-tons (Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500) are assembled in Silao, Mexico.

Two men attach wheels to a full-size half-ton Ford F-150 pickup truck chassis during assembly at the Dearborn plant in the U.S.A.
F-150 production at Dearborn plant | Ford

Note that not every full-size Silverado/Sierra 1500 truck or every Ram 1500 Classic pickup is assembled in Mexcio, only some. The current, fifth-generation Ram 1500 is assembled in Sterling Heights, Michigan, exclusively.

If you order a heavy-duty Chevy Silverado or GMC Sierra, you are guaranteed to get a truck assembled in the United States. The 2500 and 3500 come from Flint, Michigan. The 4500 and larger HDs are assembled in the old Navistar plant in Springfield, Ohio.

You are also guaranteed to get a truck assembled in the U.S.A. if you buy a Toyota Tundra or a Nissan Titan. Toyota assembles all its Tundras in San Antonio, Texas. Nissan puts together the Titan in Canton, Mississippi.

See where every full-size truck is made in the table below:

Truck NameAssembly Plant
Ford F-150Dearborn, Michigan/Kansas City, Missouri
Ford Super DutyAvon Lake, Ohio/Louisville, Kentucky
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500Fort Wayne, Indiana/Silao, Mexico
Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra HDFlint, Michigan/Springfield, Ohio
Ram 1500Sterling Heights, Michigan
Ram 1500 ClassicWarren, Michigan/Saltillo, Mexico
Ram heavy-dutySaltillo, Mexico
Toyota TundraSan Antonio, Texas
Nissan TitanCanton, Mississippi

What is the most American-made full-size truck?

Cars.com gave the 2022 award for most “American-made” pickup truck to the Ford F-150, with the Toyota Tundra hot on its heels. The experts at the Kogod School of Business agree that the F-150 gets number one but argue that because Toyota is headquartered abroad, the Tundra falls further down the list.

A row of American-made pickup trucks parked under a U.S.A. flag at the Dearborn plant.
F-150 production at Dearborn plant | Ford

Here are the Cars.com rankings:

  1. Ford F-150
  2. Toyota Tundra
  3. Ram 1500
  4. Ford F-150 hybrid
  5. Nissan Titan
  6. Ram 1500 Classic
  7. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  8. GMC Sierra 1500

Cars.com based its list solely on where 2022 pickup trucks are assembled. The Kogod School of Business came up with a ranking based on where the dollars you pony up for a new truck go.Companies headquartered abroad or doing their research and development abroad were penalized accordingly.

  1. Ford F-150 (with 2.7, 3.3, or 5.0-liter engine)
  2. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (6.2-liter V8)
  3. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (diesel)
  4. Ford F-150 (with 3.5-liter EcoBoost)
  5. Ram 1500 Classic (U.S.A. assembled versions)
  6. Toyota Tundra
  7. Ram 1500
  8. Nissan Titan
  9. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (5.3-liter V8)
  10. GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Mexico assembled version)
  11. Ram 1500 Classic (Mexico assembled version)

How do you buy the most American-made pickup truck?

You can tell where a new pickup truck was assembled by checking its window sticker. You can tell where a used truck was assembled by its VIN: if it starts in a 1, 4, or 5, it was assembled in the U.S. A number 2 means Canada, and a number 3 represents Mexico.

Bill Ford speaks at the Dearborn full-size F-150 pickup truck assembly plant in the U.S.A.
Bill Ford at Dearborn plant | Ford

No pickup truck is 100% made in the U.S.A. So it’s worth thinking about why you want to buy a truck made here. If you want to support U.S.-based businesses, look for a truck assembled in the U.S. by one of the Detroit Three. But if you are just trying to support U.S.-based manufacturing jobs, consider one of the Japanese trucks assembled here. You could also go with a midsize truck: the Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, and Honda Ridgeline are all more American-made than the F-150.

Next, see the most American-made midsize pickup trucks or learn just how American-made the average vehicle is in the video below:

Related
Meet the ‘Alaskan’—a Pickup Truck Engineered in Japan, Built in Argentina, and Sold in Colombia by a French Company

Meet the ‘Alaskan’—a Pickup Truck Engineered in Japan, Built in Argentina, and Sold in Colombia by a French Company

Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra More American-Made Than the Ram 1500?

Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra More American-Made Than the Ram 1500?

Is Ram Responsible for the Detroit of Mexico?

Is Ram Responsible for the Detroit of Mexico?

Best in Trucks
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.