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The most star-spangled car brand builds multiple models in Mexico


Vintage Jeep truck during a parade, an American flag visible in the background.

Jeep is about as American as apple pie, right? The brand tops “most patriotic” rankings year after year. But while Jeep’s marketing is all stars and stripes, its supply chain tells a different story. The Jeep Compass? Made in Mexico. The Wagoneer S? Also Mexico. And the recently-cancelled Renegade was built in Italy and shipped …

Jeep is about as American as apple pie, right? The brand tops “most patriotic” rankings year after year. But while Jeep’s marketing is all stars and stripes, its supply chain tells a different story. The Jeep Compass? Made in Mexico. The Wagoneer S? Also Mexico. And the recently-cancelled Renegade was built in Italy and shipped here.

So what about the flagship Wrangler? Even this icon of American off-roading didn’t make it onto many “most American-made” rankings—until now.

For years, Jeep has sold an image of rugged, homegrown adventure. And driver’s are buying it up. During Brand Keys’ most recent survey of the USA’s “most patriotic” brands, consumers once again voted Jeep into the #1 spot, beating out even Levi Strauss and Coca-Cola.

Where are Jeeps assembled?

Jeep does the Wrangler’s final assembly in Toledo, Ohio, near the original Willys-Overland plant. But there was a catch. Until recently it used so many foreign-made parts that it didn’t even crack the top rankings for “most American-made” vehicles.

Jeep Wrangler SUV parked on the beach with an American flag on its hood, the sea visible in the background.
Jeep Wrangler | pkujiahe via iStockPhoto

That’s finally changing. The latest Wrangler is built with a much higher percentage of American components, earning it a stronger “Made in the USA” claim. According to the 2024 Made in America Auto Index from the Kogod School of Business, the latest Wrangler has more U.S.-sourced parts than before. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Sahara now score a 76 on the index—making them some of the most American-made vehicles you can buy.

But the same can’t be said for the rest of the lineup.

Not every Jeep gets the red-white-and-blue treatment. Some roll off assembly lines far from American soil.

The Grand Cherokee still comes out of Detroit, Michigan. Its assembly is split between the Jefferson North and Mack Avenue plants. The Wrangler 4xe and Gladiator are also built in Toledo. And the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer? They share factory space with the Ram 1500 Classic in Warren, Michigan. But none of them score nearly as high on American Unviersity’s index as the Wrangler. Many components come from abroad, including the majority of Stellantis’ engines which are now built in Mexico.

Which Jeep models are built in Mexico?

If you’re driving a Compass or a Wagoneer S, your entire Jeep vehicle started its journey in Toluca, Mexico. As Stellantis itself put it: “Production of the all-new Jeep Compass began on Jan. 16, 2017.” That factory has been cranking out the popular Jeep crossovers ever since.

And until recently, Jeep was even more global. The Jeep Renegade, which Jeep quietly axed, was imported straight from Italy. Not exactly a Michigan-made machine.

Jeep isn’t alone in outsourcing production. Automakers across the board—foreign and domestic—rely on global supply chains. But when the “most patriotic” brand sources key models from Mexico and Italy, it’s a stark reminder that marketing and manufacturing aren’t always in sync. Next time you see a Jeep at a Fourth of July parade, check the VIN. If it starts with 1, 4, or 5, it was built in the USA. If it starts with 3, that one came from Mexico.



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