Six Nissan and INFINITI models recognized in 2026 Cars.com AmericanMade Index
This year’s ranking includes the Nissan Altima, Frontier, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue and INFINITI QX60. These models’ continued strong performance on the American-Made Index reflects the more than four decades of localized production expertise and the dedication of thousands of highly skilled manufacturing team members across three plants in Tennessee and Mississippi.
‘Nissan and INFINITI have a rich history of investment in U.S. manufacturing, and this year’s recognition of six models on the Cars.com American-Made Index reflects the ongoing dedication to our American production base,’ said David Johnson, regional senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing, Nissan Americas. ‘Nissan Group remains committed to building high-quality vehicles where we sell them, which is why we are accelerating localization of vehicles, with the U.S. already accounting for 65% of our production footprint.’
Further emphasizing the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, earlier this month Nissan’s Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant celebrated the one millionth Frontier truck assembled in Mississippi, part of more than two million Frontiers assembled in the U.S. to date. Frontier has been manufactured in the U.S. since 1998, first at Nissan’s Smyrna facility in Tennessee and subsequently in Canton, Miss. since 2012. Canton assembled more than 65,000 Frontier trucks in 2025.
‘The ongoing presence of Nissan and INFINITI on the Cars.com American-Made Index demonstrates their commitment to domestic manufacturing,’ said Patrick Masterson, lead researcher for Cars.com’s American-Made Index. ‘The Nissan Pathfinder, Frontier, Murano, Altima and Rogue, as well as the INFINITI QX60, all returned to the index in 2026. The positive impact of these vehicles on the U.S. economy is undeniable, from the production facilities in communities like Smyrna and Canton to the multitude of jobs provided.’
All six models recognized on this year’s Cars.com list are assembled in the United States1, where Nissan has had manufacturing operations since 1983 and INFINITI since 1989. Altima and Frontier have been assembled in the U.S. since the 1990s, with production moving to Canton in 2004 and 2012, respectively.
Pathfinder, Rogue, Murano and INFINITI QX60 are produced in Smyrna. For more than four decades, the Smyrna assembly plant has played a critical role in the company’s North American footprint, including nearly 15 years of INFINITI assembly in Tennessee. Smyrna recently started production of the all-new INFINITI QX65, with investment in training, tooling and assembly processes to prepare for the high level of detail and quality required for the all-new model – all building on the established expertise at the plant.
Engines for all six vehicles are built at Nissan’s powertrain plant in Decherd, Tenn., which recently celebrated the major milestone of assembling 20 million engines since opening in 1997.
The Smyrna, Canton and Decherd plants are key pillars of Nissan Group’s North American operations, employing over 11,000 skilled workers, representing $14.9 billion in investment , and contributing significantly to local economies.
The 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index analyzed more than 400 model-year 2026 vehicles and only 86 made the final list, highlighting the significance of Nissan and INFINITI placing six vehicles on the Index. The annual industry ranking evaluates new vehicles based on the location of final assembly, percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts content and number of U.S. manufacturing employees to determine the vehicles with the greatest impacts to the U.S. manufacturing economy.
Q&A
Q: Why is the Cars.com American-Made Index important to Nissan and INFINITI?
A: This industry ranking recognizes vehicles that make a significant impact on the U.S. economy through parts sourcing, assembly and employment. With six vehicles on the list for the second consecutive year, it reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to building vehicles where they are sold, supporting high-quality domestic jobs while delivering products that satisfy customers.
Q: Which vehicles does Nissan produce in the U.S.?
A: The Nissan Altima, Frontier, Murano, Pathfinder and Rogue are assembled in the U.S.
Q: Which vehicles does INFINITI produce in the U.S.?
A: The INFINITI QX60 and QX65 are assembled in the U.S.
Q: Is Nissan increasing localization of vehicles for the U.S. market?
A: Yes, localization – domestic production – increased from 44% and peaked at 65% in fiscal year 2025. The company’s goal is to increase U.S. localized production to 80%.
Photo credit: Nissan
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