There’s an Easy Way to Find Out if Your Truck Was Assembled in Mexico
You may think of the pickup truck as an icon of the U.S.A., hailing from Detroit. But an increasing number of new trucks are actually assembled in Mexico. Luckily there’s an easy way to check whether your truck comes from south of the border: Check your VIN. Any vehicle with an identification number beginning with a three was assembled in Mexico. But if you own a Nissan truck, don’t bother checking.
Can you tell if your truck was assembled in Mexico?
One of the quickest ways to find out where your vehicle was assembled is to look at its VIN. If this number begins with one, four, or five, the car or truck was assembled here in the U.S. Two means Canada, and three means Mexico.
If you are shopping for a new vehicle, finding where it was assembled is easy. The American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) requires all automakers to disclose where they assembled new vehicles on their window sticker. In addition, they have to include the percentage of the vehicle’s components that originate from the U.S.A. or Canada. But you won’t find this data on the window stickers of new trucks heavier than half-tons because the law only applies to light-duty vehicles.
Which automakers build trucks in Mexico?
Ram assembles all of its heavy-duty trucks in Mexico, General Motors assembles some of its half-ton Silverado 1500s and Sierra 1500s there. Ford assembles its compact Maverick in Mexico. Finally, Toyota recently moved some of its Tacoma assembly to Mexico.
Stellantis’ Saltillo, Mexico facility is one of its largest. It includes an engine plant that builds every Hemi V8 in a Ram or Dodge, a stamping plant to build body panels, a factory where every Ram van is assembled, and a factory where most Ram truck models are assembled.
General Motors has a plant nearby, in Silao Mexico. According to GM Authority this plant builds some GMC Sierra 1500s and Chevrolet Silverado 1500s and the Chevrolet Cheyenne for the Mexican market. GM half-tons built in Mexico include every regular cab and some crew cabs. It also builds many V8s (4.8L, 5.3L, 6.0L, 6.2L, 6.2L supercharged) and some six and eight-speed transmissions.
Which automakers assemble trucks in the U.S.?
Every automaker selling trucks in the U.S. assembles at least some of them here. But you have a higher chance of getting a truck assembled here with a Japanese badge. You may have to shop around if you want one from the Detroit Three.
While Ford assembles its compact Maverick in Mexico, the Ford Ranger is assembled in Michigan. Moreover, every full-size Ford truck (from the F-150 up to the Super Duty) is assembled in Dearborn, Michigan, or Kansas City. That said, only 55% of the average F-150’s components come from the U.S. or Canada.
If you want a Ram assembled in the U.S., opt for a half-ton truck. Many Ram 1500 Classics and fifth-generation Ram 1500s are still assembled in the U.S.
General Motors assembles its medium-duty trucks in Springfield, Ohio. That includes both the Chevrolet Colorado and the GMC Canyon. It assembles its heavy-duty trucks (Silverado/Sierra HD) in Flint, Michigan. GM also builds some half-ton crew cabs (the 1500 series) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The average Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500 gets 46% of its parts from the U.S. or Canada.
Toyota still assembles most of its trucks in its San Antonio factory. Nissan builds every one of its Titans in Canton, Mississipi. And every Honda Ridgeline hails from Alabama.
Next, find out which one of the Detroit Three is investing in building its future V8s here in the U.S.A. or learn more about Mexican vehicle manufacturing in the video below:
