A foreign car is any vehicle produced by an automaker headquartered outside the United States. The key factor is the company's country of origin, not necessarily where the car is assembled. This means a Toyota Camry built in Kentucky is still considered a foreign car because Toyota is a Japanese company. The distinction has become less about quality and more about brand origin, especially as many "foreign" brands now have extensive manufacturing plants within the U.S.
The confusion often arises from terms like "domestic content." The American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) requires a label showing the percentage of U.S./Canadian parts content. A car from a foreign brand can have a high domestic content percentage, while a car from a Detroit automaker might use many imported parts. The most recognized foreign car brands include those from Japan, Germany, and South Korea.
| Brand Origin | Examples of Popular Models in the U.S. | Primary U.S. Assembly Plant Locations |
|---|
| Japan | Toyota Camry, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue | Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee |
| Germany | BMW X Series, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Audi Q5 | South Carolina, Alabama, Mexico |
| South Korea | Hyundai Elantra, Kia Sportage | Alabama, Georgia |
| United Kingdom | Jaguar F-Pace, Land Rover Range Rover | Primarily imported |
| Sweden | Volvo S60 | South Carolina |
Ultimately, the definition is more about corporate ownership and brand heritage than the physical location of a factory. For consumers, the important factors are the vehicle's reliability, safety ratings, and total cost of ownership, regardless of its "foreign" or "domestic" label.
