Consumers generally consider an American car to be one designed and built by an American company rather than a car manufactured in the United States.
The globalization of manufacturing has affected the definition of an American car. Plenty of the cars made, or assembled, in the United States are actually manufactured by companies from other countries. Conversely, American carmakers often have manufacturing plants in other countries. Defining an American car becomes even more complicated when you consider car manufacturers routinely own a significant share of other car companies. Thus, a car manufacturer in one country may be effectively held by a company from another country or a multinational conglomerate.
Still, American cars have a styling that distinguishes them from European and Asian cars. American car brands generally field a complete range of car types in their lineups, compared to cars made in other countries.
Pickup trucks are closely associated with the American automotive market, with full-size trucks perhaps the most American vehicles of all.
Whether you’re shopping for an American car, truck, or something else altogether, you can look up car values on Kelley Blue Book to see how much you can expect to pay for your next vehicle.
