American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) Reports

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has provided these reports as an aid to consumers considering the purchase of a new vehicle. The charts list information that NHTSA received from vehicle manufacturers about the U.S./Canadian content (by value) of the equipment (parts) used to assemble passenger motor vehicles. The American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) defines a passenger motor vehicle as a motor vehicle designed to carry not more than 12 persons with a gross vehicle weight rating not greater than 8,500 pounds and includes multipurpose passenger vehicles and light duty trucks. It does not include a motorcycle or a truck not designed primarily to carry its operator or passengers, i.e., a delivery truck. A label with the U.S./Canada content percentage and related additional information must be displayed on these vehicles up to the time of first retail sale.

Each new passenger motor vehicle must be labeled with the following six items of information:

1. The percentage U.S./Canadian equipment (parts) content;

2. The names of any countries other than the U.S. and Canada which individually contribute 15 percent or more of the equipment content, and the percentage content for each such country (a maximum of two countries);

3. The final assembly point by city and state (where appropriate), and country;

4. The country of origin of the engine;

5. The country of origin of the transmission; and

6. A statement which explains that parts content does not include final assembly (except the engine and transmission), distribution, or other non-parts costs.

The percentage U.S./Canada equipment content, as well as content percentages for other countries are calculated on a "carline" basis rather than for each individual vehicle and may be rounded to the nearest 5 percent. The term "carline" refers to a name of a group of vehicles which has a degree of commonality in construction, e.g., body and chassis. Light duty trucks are considered to be different carlines than passenger cars. A carline includes all motor vehicles of a given nameplate.

Vehicle manufacturers must calculate the equipment content percentages for their carlines prior to the beginning of the model year. They estimate the number of vehicles and subgroups of vehicles that will be built within each carline, e.g., the number of base level and high-line models. For each carline, the calculation of U.S./Canadian content percentage also includes:

1. The U.S./Canadian content (by value) of each item of motor vehicle equipment that will be used to assemble the vehicles within the carline;

2. The total value of each equipment item, i.e., the price the manufacturer will pay for it (this information is typically provided by the manufacturer's suppliers); and

3. The total number of each of the equipment items that will be used to assemble the vehicles within the carline during the model year.

When optional equipment is offered for vehicles within the carline, the vehicle manufacturer estimates the installation rates for that equipment. For example, if vehicles are offered with a manual and automatic transmission, the manufacturer will estimate how many vehicles will be built with each transmission.

The label must be placed in a prominent location on each vehicle where it can be read from the exterior of the vehicle with the doors closed. It may be part of the Monroney price information label, part of the fuel economy label, or a separate label.

The tables that follow list information that was submitted to NHTSA by vehicle manufacturers. The tables include what we believe is the most important information that is displayed on the labels, i.e., the percentage of U.S./Canadian content; whether the vehicles within the carline are passenger cars or other vehicle types, e.g., multipurpose passenger vehicles or MPVs; and where they are manufactured, in the U.S./Canada, elsewhere, or in some cases both. A vehicle's type can be found on its certification label located on the driver's door or door jam.

In addition, NHTSA has other information about safety equipment and systems that are standard or optional equipment on new vehicles on the web site www.safercar.gov. Also included on the web site are data from the agency's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) including the relative frontal and side crash protection in new vehicles as well as a vehicle's likelihood to roll over from a single vehicle crash. Information on vehicles that NHTSA has tested in the NCAP program can be obtained by calling the agency's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

If you want to review the original submission from the manufacturers or request research done on the Part 583 submissions, please contact the NHTSA Technical Information Services (TIS). The TIS Reading Room (E12-100) is open to the public during the hours of 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (Eastern time). Users may visit the Reading Room to perform their own research. TIS staff members are on duty to assist users. Due to security, have the guard call our Reference Desk, (202) 366-2588 for an escort.

Customers unable to visit TIS in person but requiring extensive searches of the collections are requested to put the details of their requirements in writing, authorizing a fee search for which they agree to make payment.