The vibe at this year?s Detroit auto show was distinctly more American than usual, one cultivated not by the Detroit Three but rather the large foreign automakers, most of which no doubt wished to avoid any angry tweets fired in their direction from president-elect Donald Trump. Indeed, Toyota, Honda, and others touted strong, longstanding ties to the land of the red, white, and blue, including sponsorships and manufacturing commitments.

Honda
In the first seven sentences spoken at Honda?s press conference, Honda Motor Company CEO and president Takahiro Hachigo said ?America,? ?North America,? or ?United States? six times as he highlighted the company?s long history of building vehicles in Ohio, where motorcycle production began in 1979 and the first cars came off the line in 1982. He further pointed out that 96 percent of Hondas sold in America last year were made in America. Honda has 12 U.S. plants that make a variety of products, including the star debutante for Honda in Detroit, the new 2018 Odyssey. Honda has built the Odyssey in North America since the second generation in 1999, and Honda Motor Company executive vice president John Mendel confirmed that the strategy will continue with the latest, fifth-generation model, to be built in Lincoln, Alabama. Honda also made sure to point out that the new Odyssey was designed and developed entirely in the United States. That also includes its new 10-speed transmission, which comes from Honda’s plant in Talla...