Cars The …

The “Buy American” crowd may think the simple fact that a car or truck comes from a Detroit automaker means it’s American. That’s not a bad assumption to start with. GM, Ford and Chrysler generally have higher domestic-parts content across their lineups than their European and Asian competitors. The bottom rung of domestic parts-content models, conversely, is heavy on import brands: All 50 of the 2009 models whose American Automobile Labeling Act parts content is zero are built by Asia- or Europe-based automakers, according to NHTSA. That isn’t to say every GM, Ford or Chrysler is homegrown. The Chevy Aveo, for example, is built in Korea with 1 percent domestic parts. Chrysler’s recently discontinued PT Cruiser was built in Mexico, with a domestic-parts content of just 27 percent. Its GM doppelganger, the Chevy HHR, also hails from south of the border, with a domestic-parts content rating of 50 percent. Detroit’s latest muscle Battery Kids Cars, the 2010 Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, have a middling 60 percent domestic content, while their crosstown rival, the Dodge Challenger, comes in at 56 percent. Of the three, the Mustang is the only car built here; the Challenger and Camaro are assembled in Canada.