In 2024, the United States of America imported US$219.5 billion worth of cars originating from a total 84 countries or territories.

The overall cost for all of America’s purchases of imported cars in 2024 accelerated by 50.6% compared to $145.7 billion five years earlier for 2020.

Year over year, US spending on imported cars increased by 4.2% from $210.3 billion during 2023.

From Where Does the United States Spend Most On Imported Cars?

Among suppliers in the latest reporting period, American importers spent the most on cars originating from Mexico (22.8% of US spending on imported cars), Japan (18.6%), South Korea (17.3%), Canada (12.9%) and Germany (11.7%).

Applying a continental lens, 38% of total US spending on imported cars in 2024 went to suppliers in Asia, surpassing neighboring North American trading partners Mexico and Canada at 35.7%.

The United States bought another 25.3% worth of cars imported from Europe. Germany generated nearly half of that percentage, while all European Union members satisfied 20.9% of US demand for imported cars.

Smaller continental percentages for sources of US imported cars belong to suppliers in Africa (1%), Latin America (0.004%) excluding Mexico, then Oceania’s Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (0.002%).

Countries Exporting Cars to Buyers in America

America’s top 15 suppliers of imported cars in 2024 attracted 99.5% of US car purchases from foreign markets, with about three-fifths (58.7%) of the overall value coming from Mexico, Japan and South Korea.

1. Mexico: US$50 billion (22.8% of total US imported cars)
2. Japan: $40.8 billion (18.6%)
3. South Korea: $38 billion (17.3%)
4. Canada: $28.4 billion (12.9%)
5. Germany: $25.6 billion (11.7%)
6. United Kingdom: $9.8 billion (4.5%)
7. Slovakia: $6.3 billion (2.9%)
8. Italy: $3.99 billion (1.8%)
9. Sweden: $3.97 billion (1.8%)
10. mainland China: $3.8 billion (1.7%)
11. South Africa: $2.2 billion (1%)
12. Austria: $1.81 billion (0.8%)
13. Hungary: $1.76 billion (0.8%)
14. Belgium: $1.4 billion (0.6%)
15. France: $611.6 million (0.3%)

The fastest growers among America’s automotive suppliers were France (up 59.7% from 2023), mainland China (up 33.5%), United Kingdom (up 33%), South Africa (up 18.7%) then South Korea (up 17.8%).

The severest year-over-year decliners among the listed US car suppliers were Belgium (down -77.5%), Italy (down -27.7%), Canada (down -22.8%) and Austria (down -11.3%).

United States International Trade Deficits for Cars by Country

America is a major producer and seller of cars on international markets. In 2024, the United States shipped $59.2 billion worth of cars to its trade partners. Yet the reality is that American revenues from its exported cars equals just 27% of the $219.5 billion that the US spent importing cars from foreign suppliers.

Consequently, the US trade deficit specific to cars equals -US$160.3 billion for 2024. That amount of red ink reflects an 8.9% increase from America’s -$147.3 product deficit for 2023.

Below you will find the 15 countries that caused America’s highest negative subtotal (-$181.1 billion) from buying and selling cars on global markets in 2024.

1. Mexico: -US$45.4 billion (up 11.9% from 2023)
2. Japan: -$39.9 billion (up 0.6%)
3. South Korea: -$35.9 billion (up 25.6%)
4. Germany: -$17.7 billion (up 18.4%)
5. Canada: -$12.9 billion (down -32.9%)
6. United Kingdom: -$8.8 billion (up 54.2%)
7. Slovakia: -$6.3 billion (down -3.3%)
8. Italy: -$3.85 billion (down -22.3%)
9. Sweden: -$3.82 billion (up 0.4%)
10. South Africa: -$2 billion (up 27.3%)
11. Austria: -$1.79 billion (down -10.1%)
12. Hungary: -$1.75 billion (down -0.3%)
13. France: -$468.1 million (up 641.1%)
14. Thailand: -$373.8 million (up 80.2%)
15. Vietnam: -$156.2 million (up 161.6%)

America’s deficits for cars widened by at the greatest percentages compared to 2023 with: France (up 641.1%), Vietnam (up 161.6%), Thailand (up 80.2%), United Kingdom (up 54.2%), South Africa (up 27.3%) and South Korea (up 25.6%).

The US was able to trim the size of its negative trade balances with Canada (down -32.9% from 2023), Italy (down -22.3%), Austria (down -10.1%), Slovakia (down -3.3%) and Hungary (down -0.3%).

United States International Trade Surpluses for Cars by Country

The United States did generate surpluses from the global car trade with about 170 other countries, islands or territories. In general, many of these surplus-creating traders represent relatively small markets.

From the 15 trade partners below, America captured a subtotal $15.4 billion in positive cashflow during 2024.

1. United Arab Emirates: US$4.1 billion product surplus (up 6.7% from 2023)
2. Saudi Arabia: $1.8 billion (down -17.3%)
3. Australia: $1.25 billion (down -1.5%)
4. Georgia: $1.18 billion (down -0.1%)
5. mainland China: $1.11 billion (down -70.1%)
6. Netherlands: $805 million (up d)
7. Lithuania: $798.1 million (down -19.4%)
8. Dominican Republic: $722.1 million (up 4.5%)
9. Taiwan: $716.7 million (up 58.6%)
10. Oman: $614.1 million (up 9.4%)
11. Jordan: $581.9 million (up 36.4%)
12. Nigeria: $537.4 million (down -0.4%)
13. Kuwait: $436.3 million (down -27.7%)
14. Iraq: $434.1 million (up 79.6%)
15. Brazil: $351.8 million (up 15.7%)

The United States grew its individual trade surpluses at the fastest pace since 2023 at the expense of the Netherlands (up 134.6%), Iraq (up 79.6%), Taiwan (up 58.6%), Jordan (up 36.4%) and Brazil (up 15.7%).

In contrast, American surpluses from buying and selling cars reduced at the steepest rate trading with: mainland China (down -70.1% from 2023), Kuwait (down -27.7%), Lithuania (down -19.4%) and Saudi Arabia (down -17.3%).
 

Searchable List of US Imported Cars Suppliers

The table below shows the dollar amount for cars sold to the US in 2024 by country. Also shown is the percentage value change for each supplier since 2023.

You can change presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of a column.

An entry of 0% in the far-right column means that 2023 data was unavailable for that supplier-country.

See also United States Top 10 Imports, US Exported & Imported Cars by State, America’s Top Trading Partners, Car Imports by Country and Top Cars Exporters by Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on March 14, 2025

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 14, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 14, 2025

Wikipedia, Car. Accessed on March 14, 2025

Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers. Accessed on March 14, 2025

Wikipedia, List of car brands. Accessed on March 14, 2025