10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Tesla Model 3 Makes the Most, Nissan Turns Over New Leaf
It’s been a bumpy ride for the Tesla brand in the past year due to the polarizing political activities of the automaker’s CEO, spurring many Americans to exercise one of the most American freedoms: the protest, in the form of boycotts and picket lines (as well as some other unfortunate means). But on the lighter side, on a subject that unites us all as participants in the U.S.’s culture and economy — namely, supporting consumer products that can legitimately claim those three magic words, “Made in America” — Tesla is truly second to none. For the second time in its five years of eligibility for Cars.com’s American-Made Index, the brand’s entire lineup of luxury electric vehicles — sans its Cybertruck — runs the table in the top four spots among cars we consider the most American based on a formula balancing domestic parts content, assembly site and other qualifying factors.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Nissan Sentra Squeaks Past Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Top among Teslas for 2025 is the Model 3 compact sedan, followed by the Model Y compact SUV at No. 2, Model S full-size sedan at No. 3 and the Model X mid-size SUV rounding out the top four. Unsurprising that the Texas-based brand would rank high among the “most American” cars, a list no doubt primarily populated by the so-called Big Three Detroit automakers, Ford, GM and (sorta) Stellantis, right? Wrong. In fact, U.S.-based brands comprise just over one-third of the top 20 and less than 38% of the entire roster of 117 — the rest representing Asian and European brands such as Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. It’s not just who builds ’em but what they’re built with and where. Rounding out the top 10 are the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, Kia EV6 electric SUV, Honda Ridgeline pickup, Honda Odyssey minivan, Honda Passport SUV and Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV.
For full details on the 2025 American-Made Index — including the full list of 117, further contextual info and a detailed explainer on how vehicles became eligible — follow the link below to the No. 1 news story of the week (and check out the No. 2 news story, too, if you’re curious about the most, to put it glibly, “un-American” models).
Running a close third place is a car that didn’t make the American-Made Index but is nonetheless worthy of inclusion on your EV shopping list: the Nissan Leaf, reimagined and reenergized for the 2026 model year. The all-new Leaf has shed its out-of-fashion hatchback skin and reemerged as a true “crossover,” neither SUV nor sedan but a little column A, a little column B — and to generally positive effect. The interior is excellent, with a toned-down, just-vibey-enough look and feel, along with upgraded standard and available tech. Most importantly, a selection of bigger batteries bring bumped-up power, faster and more versatile charging options, and a substantially increased driving range of as much as 303 miles.
For everything we know so far about the 2026 Nissan Leaf — in addition to pricing projections and the on-sale date — follow the link below to the No. 3 news story on this week’s countdown of most-read articles.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Toyota Prius, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mercedes-Benz GLC and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2025 Cars.com American-Made Index: Which Cars Are the Most American?
2. Which Cars Are Made Outside the U.S.?
3. 2026 Nissan Leaf Up Close: Third Time’s Truly a Charm
4. Blacked-Out Nightshade Edition Joins Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Lineup for 2026
5. Ford Recalls 197,000-Plus Mustang Mach-Es for Door Latch Issue
6. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
7. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
8. Mercedes-Benz Recalls 92,000-Plus GLC SUVs Over C-Pillar Issue
9. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
10. How Does Selling to a Dealer Work?
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