Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis, known as the Detroit 3 or Big Three, are the largest and most influential automakers in the United States, headquartered in or near Detroit, Michigan. However, new data indicates they are importing significantly more vehicles into the US than many expected. When comparing pure figures, this trio imports more vehicles than some foreign manufacturers, including BMW.

According to S&P Global data cited in a Detroit News report, Ford imported 378,123 vehicles into the United States in 2025, out of a total of 2,204,124 vehicles sold nationwide. The majority of these imports came from Mexico, including key models such as the Maverick, Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E. Additionally, the Lincoln Nautilus was imported from China.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle is imported into the United States from Mexico. Photo: Ford

The Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle is imported into the United States from Mexico. Photo: Ford

GM relies more heavily on imports than Ford, bringing in 1,170,480 vehicles in 2025. Of these, 388,280 vehicles came from its plants in South Korea. This figure represents a significant portion of the 2.85 million vehicles the company sold in the United States.

Key GM models imported into the United States include the Chevrolet Trax, Trailblazer, Buick Envista, and Encore GX, all manufactured in South Korea. Despite tariffs under President Donald Trump's administration making imports more expensive than during former President Joe Biden's tenure, GM is investing 600 million USD in its South Korean manufacturing operations to boost production.

Concurrently, GM is expanding its manufacturing capacity in the United States, adding hundreds of thousands of vehicles and committing billions of USD to boost domestic output. However, relocating production between regions is not a rapid solution. Retooling factories and adjusting supply chains require years, not months, which limits automakers' ability to quickly respond to policy changes.

Data indicates Stellantis is also a major importer of foreign-made vehicles into the United States, bringing in 513,893 units in 2025. The company is simultaneously adjusting its production scale, relocating some operations domestically, including transferring Jeep Compass assembly lines to Illinois.

Compared to the Detroit 3 automakers, BMW imported only 215,078 vehicles into the United States in 2025, a lower figure than Ford, GM, and Stellantis. However, this number does not fully reflect the reality, as BMW sold only 388,897 vehicles in the United States throughout 2025, meaning more than half of its sales were imported vehicles.

Several other brands are also significant importers into the United States. For example, Nissan imported 429,451 vehicles, Volkswagen imported 452,220, and Honda brought in 556,404 vehicles. Among foreign brands, Hyundai and Toyota lead in import volumes, with 1,092,478 and 1,192,969 vehicles respectively.

Among major automakers in the United States, Tesla remains the most "American" brand. Its vehicles utilize the highest proportion of North American-made components, and in 2025, the company imported no vehicles into the United States.

My Anh