Most domestic content question

[Diamondpilot]

On and off the subject just a month ago or so I read a article in the USA Today paper about pickup trucks. The F-150 and the new Tundra were the most American made trucks when you consider parts and man hours to assemble them. The Dodge trucks were the least American made. Go figure. I also remember reading somewhere a few years back that the Honda Civic was one of the top American made cars.

Chris

 

[GLLinMO]

Global economy anyone?

 

[MikePA]

It's kinda funny. Your original question was;

Anyone have any factual data on what 4x4 utility tractor around 70-80HP has the most domestic content?

and there are responses about compact tractors, trucks and a car.

The answer to your question is 'No, there are no sources that track this data.'

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

Anyone have any factual data on what 4x4 utility tractor around 70-80HP has the most domestic content?

Thanks.

Have you tried asking the companies that actually sell the tractors? I know there are stories on here about dealers being a little shady on the information but it seems that information must be available somewhere.

 

[AndyMA]

With the current global economy. Who cares as long as you have good parts support.

Andy

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

With the current global economy. Who cares as long as you have good parts support.

Andy

Evidently "Builder" cares...

 

[AndyMA]

Evidently "Builder" cares...

Even when you look at the actual "material" lists for a product they usually say something like "may contain compents from Mexico, Brasil or the Phillipines" so I don't think you get too much from these shets these days anyway. I designed and manufactured products for years and I can tell you that even for my own products I would have a hard time telling you where the materials came from. Many times I bought a component from let's say Spain, that was assembled from components from several other countries. It truly is a global economy.
Andy

 

[patrick_g]

The original question was reasonable and limited in scope BUT I honestly don't think there is a good answer available and it probably varies significantly over time as the "Global Economy" is not a static thing but ebbs and flows like the tide.

Another thing is that the domestic contribution is probably quite low so as to not really mean much.

If you want to talk AMERICAN made ag machines look at the BIG computer controlled combines. JD was making those recently, not just assembling major sub assemblies left apart for economy of shipping and "assembled" in the US.

To compare domestic content in tractors you would have to find at least one brand that actually has domestic content and isn't just a group of imported subassemblies bolted together in the US.

Lets start the ball rolling toward a direct answer of the original question! Please, someone name a tractor in the HP range stated that has actual domestic content (hopefully besides tires and the air in them.)

Pat

 

[tydp]

With the current global economy. Who cares as long as you have good parts support.

Andy

I want to know where, because I always gauge initial qaulity by where something was made (among other factors).

 

[patrick_g]

I want to know where, because I always gauge initial qaulity by where something was made (among other factors).

That has never worked reliably for me as there is such a wide dynamic range of quality levels associated with a general geographic region. We joke a lot about Chinese junk from Harbor Freight but the Chinese are also our hottest new competitors in space and Harbor Freight quality didn't put them there.

Likewise Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Korea, and so forth. You can find examples of junk from each of these but each of these also does precision manufacturing as well. North Korea's nuclear facilities are not built to Harbor Freight standards. India has a nuclear weapons capability.

I am afraid I could not predict quality by knowing the geographic location of the factory. I'd have to see samples or get good reports from trusted sources.

Pat