Consumer watchdog Truth in Advertising (TINA.org) sent Tesla a letter saying its social media posts make deceptive “Made in USA” claims, MediaPost reported on April 22, 2025.
The letter
- TINA.org wrote to Tesla’s general counsel on April 21, citing posts the company made on X in the previous two months.
- It said Tesla vehicles are assembled in the USA with as much as 25% of their content from Mexico and other countries.
- It cited the FTC standard that USA-made products be “all or virtually all” made domestically with “no — or negligible — foreign content.”
- The story noted Tesla had told the U.S. Trade Representative in March that some parts are “difficult or impossible to source within the United States.”
“A truly ‘Made in USA’ car — meaning one that meets the FTC’s ‘all or virtually all’ standard — doesn’t exist.”
Truth in Advertising
Why it matters for Made in USA
Tesla ranks at or near the top of USA-content car rankings, and TINA.org still says it cannot use an unqualified claim. “Assembled in USA” is the accurate wording for even the most domestic cars. Related: Stellantis pulled its “American Born” ads and the 2025 Cars.com index.
FAQ
Who sent the letter?
Truth in Advertising, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group in Madison, Connecticut.
What did it object to?
Tesla posts on X that it said made unqualified Made in USA claims.
Is any car all USA-made?
TINA.org said no car meets the FTC all or virtually all standard.
Source & credit
Source: MediaPost, April 22, 2025: “Tesla Faces Criticism Over ‘Made In USA’ Claims”, by Tanya Gazdik.