By Nick Aziz
Friday, Dec 9th, 2005 @ 5:57 pm

The always insightful Auto Prophet takes a look at whether buying from an American car maker is really what it used to be. “I have always been a buy American advocate. But I am seriously beginning to rethink this position,” he writes. “It is becoming hard to defend simply, and I hate convoluted explanations.” He points out that a large number of vehicles sold in the United States contain a mix of American and Asian parts, regardless of where the company is headquartered. He says that 70 percent of the Honda Civic is made up of American parts, yet the profits go to a Japanese company. On the other hand, Saab, for example, is made in Sweden with European components, yet profits go to GM in America. The Prophet says “the domestic carmakers want the benefits of my patriotism without any sort of return commitment.” For example, they look to China for parts, while forcing American companies like Delphi into bankruptcy, he explains. As it turns out, there may be no true “patriotic choice” anymore.