Global Automakers Tout 'Made in USA' at D.C. Auto Show
CARS.COM — Foreign automakers with plants and workers in the U.S. are making a point of their contributions to the U.S. economy in their displays at the 2017 Washington Auto Show, which opened to the public in Washington, D.C., today.
Related: Trump and the Auto Industry
Amid the current rhetoric about trade, imported products and “big border taxes,” many automakers have been going out of their way in recent weeks to highlight U.S. jobs and investments. Perhaps with that in mind, several foreign automakers have red, white and blue signs on their U.S.-made vehicles at the D.C. show to remind visitors of their plants and workers here. They tout the vehicles’ origins, such as “Made in Kentucky” and “Made in Ohio.”
The signs also direct visitors to HereForAmerica.com, which highlights the contributions of major foreign automakers and suppliers to the U.S. economy in jobs, investments and exports. The website is maintained by Global Automakers, a trade group.
Toyota, which so far has been the only foreign maker to be a Twitter target for the Trump administration (with a somewhat inaccurate tweet about plans to build Corollas in Mexico), also made the biggest point of its U.S. presence in its display. It not only has signs on the car doors, but it also has large posters with images and quotations from U.S. workers and a Tundra tailgate done up to proclaim its Texas origin. Many of Toyota’s plants are in the so-called “red states” that supported Trump in the election.
The Toyota Camry topped the Cars.com American-Made Index for the second consecutive year, while the Honda Accord was No. 2 and the Honda Pilot was No. 5.
It’s a delicate dance to try to stay out of the Trump crosshairs. It may have been a good thing or a bad thing that foreign automakers were not represented at the White House meeting this week with automaker CEOs (unless you count Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). Several confirmed to The Detroit News that they were not invited.
