Look at the window sticker, it's 100% Japanese, but I still bought one. Camry hybrid has some domestic content and I believe it is assmbled in the U.S.
I'd like to keep my dollars in the U.S. too, but U.S. companies need to earn it from me, just like any other company would. If there was a Prius equivalent produced by one of the big 3 auto makers, it would be on my list!
I feel comfortable that Toyota makes a Huge investment in the USA. Also dealers make profits and employ American Workers.
The banks that loan you money are in the usa. The car salesman is american. The dealership owner is usually american. The truck driver that shipped it to the dealer is american it goes on and on.
If you buy a Prius, more money stays at USA vs all that petrodollars going to Arab countries. Case in point: Dubai. There used to be desert there short time ago. Guess who paid for all that? Sadly, all those rednecks driving pickup trucks don't get it.
I'm a true blue American. With only one American car in over 30 years, it is, what it is. Win me over Detroit, but time is running out. Remember "all those" rednecks booing when Toyota entered NASCAR. Now they cheer when they win. Keep doing what you do, Toyota.
... Marketing is also American. If all that isn't enough, then get a Camry Hybrid. The last I heard, the assembled-in-U.S. Camry (regular non-hybrid) had a higher U.S. parts content than any U.S.-brand car.
American cars are built all around the world as well, Ford has plants in Mexico and Canada. Chevrolet has plants in Japan, Columbia, Mexico, and Canada. The lists goes on and on, if you want to buy "American" your choices are going to be very limited.
^^^ Yep. OP can look at C&D: Domestic Bliss: A Graphic Representation of What's Really "Made in America" - Feature | PriusChat. Also yep on friendly_jacek's post. OP can look at Toyota In Action. Prius is built in Japan but Camry Hybrid is assembled in the US per Toyota Kentucky -|- The Official Website of TMMK. The Domestic Bliss figures mentioned 40% US/Canada part content. Not sure how different that is now. Per Oil: Crude and Petroleum Products - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy - Energy Information Administration, we import 8.436 million barrels of oil/day which at current prices is ~$807 million/day, flowing out of the country to pay for foreign oil. Most of that resides in volatile regions of the world and/or where the people/govt don't like us much: CIA - The World Factbook and Countries - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Also see Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn: ‘Clean’ Cars are Patriotic | GreenCar.com and Why Buy Electric Cars? Iraq Vet Says: For National Security. Perhaps if the OP is really concerned, he should buy a Ford hybrid. However, some of them like the Fusion Hybrid are (IIRC) assembled in Mexico.
The statement about oil is a myth. We only import about 30% of our oil. The rest is from the usa. I was really surprised when I found out.
Yes, where you get your oil is changing rapidly. Mostly due to "fracking" and it's only in the last 5 or so years it's changed. Much to the chagrin of Alberta, who want to sell you tar sands oil. Though much of that oil is produced by American and other countries companies. Which brings up another point, which country is a multinational company from? Investors are from all over the world. It's going to get very hard to be "patriotic" in this multinational world! Probably a good thing.
It is predicted to approach 0% in a few years, again, due to "fracking". So I guess you have to decide which is worse, allowing "fracking" or buying foreign oil.
You'll be also surprised to learn it is really 45% of US oil being imported. How dependent is the United States on foreign oil? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) Cost $400B per year. Better a $76B trade deficit with Japan vs. $400B trade deficit for oil, $200B of that to Middle East religious dicatorships and terrorists.
Or decide what is best, cut US oil use by 50% to match the current 50% more energy efficient Europe and Japan and no fracking and no oil import costs.
I hate to ever agree with iClaudius, but he's right on both the above. How many who 'support' US industry buying big gas guzzling cars (that nobody else in the World buys - ever wondered why?) realise half their fuel costs goes to help countries that hate the western way of life? Every single tank they fill up, half goes to some turd somewhere down the line who pays good money to blow up your soldiers. If EVER their was an incentive, that's a good one.
The statement about low oil imports is a myth. Despite the recent greatly increased production, and reduced consumption (driven by both conservation and the Great Recession), we still import a lot more than that:
I suspect the difference between your two figures is the almost 3 million barrels a day imported from Canada and over 1 million barrels imported from Mexico. If you decide that Canada and Mexico are the USA, then we only import 30% of our oil, if you REALLY mean the USA, then we import 45% of our oil.
