What are the rules on "country of origin" for cars?

[JoeyP]

Just wondering if there are any standards on assigning "nationality" on a vehicle, based on where it is designed, or assembled, or shipped from.

For example, what makes a car "German" if the parts/assemblies are sourced from Asia and Canada, and it is assembled in Mexico or South Carolina? Is nationality determined by the country that designs it, even if the designers are subcontracted from other countries and firms?

Same for "American" cars that may be badged as GM, but have powertrains made in Canada (possibly containing parts made in China) and are assembled in Mexico.

 

[NutBucket]

Not sure what your question is?

The window sticker on a car states point of final assembly, source of engine/transmission and percentage of foreign/domestic parts.

 

[JoeyP]

Not sure what your question is?

The window sticker on a car states point of final assembly, source of engine/transmission and percentage of foreign/domestic parts.

It's really a question of correctness with respect to the vehicle's nationality. What makes a German car a German car? Looking at certain models, they are made in Mexico, so are they actually a Mexican car? If not, why not?

 

[JCH13]

Holy semantics batman...

 

[NutBucket]

Fine, nationality is determined by the origin of the brand. Did we ever consider Jaguar or Land Rover to be domestic because they were owned by Ford? Or Saab because it was owned by GM? Will we now consider Volvo Chinese because of their new owners?

In general, a car will always bear the characteristics consistent with the brand no matter where it is made/assembled.

 

[CraigRT]

It's simply where the companies stem from.

American cars = Chrysler, Ford, GM
Japanese cars = Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda
German cars = BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, VW

 

[JoeyP]

It's simply where the companies stem from.

American cars = Chrysler, Ford, GM
Japanese cars = Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda
German cars = BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, VW

So a Honda assembled here in the USA, made from parts sourced from American/Canadian/Mexican/whatever plants, designed and tested here in the USA...is still a Japanese car?

My uncle owned a very early Honda Civic, first generation I believe. That was a Real Japanese Car. I'm not sure the same words can be used to describe today's Civic.

So what I'm saying is what it meant to be a <insert nationality here> Car is different today than 30-40 years ago, so I'm not sure the same label really applies.

 

[NutBucket]

Its the same because the profit still goes back to Japan, no matter where the car is made.

 

[CraigRT]

So a Honda assembled here in the USA, made from parts sourced from American/Canadian/Mexican/whatever plants, designed and tested here in the USA...is still a Japanese car?

My uncle owned a very early Honda Civic, first generation I believe. That was a Real Japanese Car. I'm not sure the same words can be used to describe today's Civic.

So what I'm saying is what it meant to be a <insert nationality here> Car is different today than 30-40 years ago, so I'm not sure the same label really applies.

I call it a Japanese car, I work in the supply chain of the Honda Civic and mine was made in Alliston, Ontario. But I still call Honda a Japanese car, despite knowing it's made here.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Where is the parent company located?

There's your answer.

 

[soccerballtux]

Just wondering if there are any standards on assigning "nationality" on a vehicle, based on where it is designed, or assembled, or shipped from.

For example, what makes a car "German" if the parts/assemblies are sourced from Asia and Canada, and it is assembled in Mexico or South Carolina? Is nationality determined by the country that designs it, even if the designers are subcontracted from other countries and firms?

Same for "American" cars that may be badged as GM, but have powertrains made in Canada (possibly containing parts made in China) and are assembled in Mexico.

Mexico and the whole of South America counts as "America".

You can thank the democrats for that one.
This is how GM is laughing to the bank as they outsource their production to Mexico with one hand and take (took) the bailout with the other.

 

[JoeyP]

Where is the parent company located?

There's your answer.

Its the same because the profit still goes back to Japan, no matter where the car is made.

So now that a Chinese company owns Volvo, is Volvo considered a Chinese Car? That's where the profits go, and where the parent company is located.