# Where was it built **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516 "2000-10-03T19:56:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ironhead83](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ironhead83/32/17665_2.png) [@ironhead83](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironhead83)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/1 "2000-10-03T19:56:44Z")
where can I find out what percentage of what nominally US made motorcycle were made where. Honda and Kawasaki both make models in the US are their parts from Japan? Harley buys lots of parts from China, what percentage of a Harley Davidson is American made? ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/2 "2000-10-03T20:12:27Z")
Have you tried the manufacturers? ---
**Author:** ![ironhead83](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ironhead83/32/17665_2.png) [@ironhead83](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironhead83)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/3 "2000-10-03T21:12:14Z")
They don’t seem very supportive on that kind of inquiry - I have 3 call you backs that have never showed ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/4 "2000-10-03T21:42:59Z")
This is just an idea, but maybe the United Auto Workers Union keeps and makes this kind of info available at their website. Or maybe your local local (heh) might be able to help. Try [http://www.uaw.org](http://www.uaw.org) ---
**Author:** ![Skribbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Skribbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skribbler)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/5 "2000-10-04T02:26:21Z")
Good luck! Cars and bikes today made in the USA seem to have a lot of foreign parts. The old Ford Courier circa 1970s, had a Ford body, and a Mazda 2 engine. I always considered it funny to find these big rednecks, with the ‘buy American’ attitudes and the ‘Hungry? Eat your rice burner!’ tooling around in a FORD-by gosh! with a Japanese engine in it. Car makers are not always agreeable to give you much data concerning ‘out-farming’ of parts. Many replacement parts -that cost you a fortune - are made over seas because the cost is cheaper. The most curious thing I once read was how our steel industry was having financial problems, yet scrap dealers were shipping tons of iron and steel over seas, where it was remelted and reforged, then shipped back as either raw stock or finished parts. Why? It was cheaper than buying steel from our own mills. (This was before the major recycling move.) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/6 "2000-10-04T03:18:56Z")
Doesn’t the government now require disclosure of this type of thing on the price sticker? Though it may just be a percentage, like 60% domestic parts and 40% foreign, rather than a breakdown of which parts came from where, which would probably take at least a good-sized pamphlet. ---
**Author:** ![honkytonkwillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@honkytonkwillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/honkytonkwillie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/7 "2000-10-04T06:14:47Z")
[hijack] I laugh at those new Mercedes SUVs that have proliferated in my area. Built in Alabama. Pretty much defeats the whole purpose of buying a Mercedes. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/8 "2000-10-04T07:35:26Z")
Japan-based Showa Motors makes several parts for Harleys at their (Showa’s) Ohio factory. –sublight. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/9 "2000-10-04T09:51:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by honkytonkwillie \* > **I laugh at those new Mercedes SUVs that have proliferated in my area. Built in Alabama. Pretty much defeats the whole purpose of buying a Mercedes.** In response to your hijack: this particular Mercedes was tested on BBC’s Top Gear a few weeks ago. They found the build quality apalling, and called it “unfit for a Mercedes”. Makes you think how mcu Mercedes care about their image… of course the US is the biggest market for SUV’s (you can’t park them here unless you own the South Fork Ranch, and filling it up with fuel costs you the equivalent of Romania’s GDP), but they ARE exported to Europe as well. In comparison with its predecesssir, the _Geländewagen_, it’s not even in the same league. Then again, SUVs suck anyway. Gimme a Land Rover anyday! Sorry for not being able to answer the OP 😉 ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/10 "2000-10-04T14:20:46Z")
a land rover is not considered an SUV? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/11 "2000-10-04T15:10:03Z")
No, you _heathen_ 😉 A Land Rover is the Best Four By Four By Far, as the manufacturer claims it to be. I can see how the Discovery could be considered an SUV, but I was of course referring to the authentic [LR Defender 90](http://www.d-90.com/pic/swim1.jpg), for example. A genuine off-roader, not some sort of suburban yuppie weekendmobile that can barely take a speed bump. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/12 "2000-10-04T16:09:31Z")
Yeah but if you have a LR Discovery, elephants will wash it for you. Must be true, I saw it on TV! ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/13 "2000-10-04T16:14:01Z")
Shouldn’t someone be singing the Canyonero song from the simpsons by now? The Land Rover may be great in the out back, or other rought terrain, but the last time I went over a speed bump in one, I thought my back was going to break! Do those things even have shock absorbers? Give me a sissyfied Dodge Durango anyday. I just want a bigger vehicle for the chillins that’s not a mini-van. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2000, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-was-it-built/35516/14 "2000-10-04T19:52:43Z")
I’m not up to date on Hogs and I don’t know the American made Japanese bikes, but as of the late 80s: [ul]Forks-Japan Wheels-Australia Carburetors-Japan. AFAIK, Harley still uses Mikuni carbs.[/ul] Frames and engines were (are?) made in Milwaukee and… Ontario? I’m not sure about this. The best source for info like this may be the motorcycle mags, especially the editions that cover this years Harley models. Look in the articles, sidebars and the “bits and pieces” (news shorts) sections. They may move things around. Skribbler, the Ford Courier _was_ a Mazda with the Ford name on it. I know someone who made their Courier into a Mazda after an accident by replacing the tailgate, side labels and front grille. Around 1980, they started putting the Pinto 2.3L in them. And Enright3, I’ve heard bad things about Range Rovers and The Outback (though from biased sources, admittedly.) I believe that Aussie roads are a bit rougher than ours and the cars (across all lines) are built accordingly.