05/15/2026
ABB achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first electric motor manufacturer to obtain product-level certification under the NEMA Make It American™ Program – a distinction awarded by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the trade organization defining and promoting standards for safe, reliable electrical equipment in the U.S. market. This honor demonstrates ABB’s commitment to domestic content standards and American manufacturing excellence.
The NEMA Make It American Program helps manufacturers confidently offer Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act-compliant products to the market. The certification validates that companies meet stringent domestic content requirements for products destined for federally funded infrastructure projects. Additionally, the certification demonstrates ABB’s commitment to American-made components and supply chain transparency, giving all customers confidence in the U.S.-manufactured content of their purchases.
“Receiving the first NEMA Make it American Program product certification for electric motors is a reflection of ABB's dedication to domestic manufacturing and our commitment to supporting American workers and communities,” said Jesse Henson, President, NEMA Motors Division, ABB. “We’ve been a cornerstone of U.S. electric motor production since 1956, and this recognition reinforces our position as a trusted partner for infrastructure and industrial customers across the nation.”
ABB is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of NEMA-compliant motors, producing more than 1.5 million electric motors annually. These motors convert electricity into mechanical energy, powering industrial and commercial applications such as pumps, conveyors, fans and air compressors.
By maintaining robust domestic motor manufacturing capabilities, ABB not only supports American jobs and strengthens the domestic industrial base but also ensures critical U.S. infrastructure and defense systems have secure, reliable access to American-made components, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities and reinforcing U.S. economic resilience. The NEMA Make It American Program certification validates ABB's commitment to this vital mission, confirming the motors powering America's future are built by American workers, with American materials and designed to meet the highest standards of quality and domestic content.
The BABA Act was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the intent of ensuring American tax dollars support America's workers, communities and businesses. BABA sets stringent domestic content requirements for iron and steel products, manufactured products and construction materials in all infrastructure projects receiving federal funding.
The NEMA Make It American Program provides a third-party audit and certification process, helping manufacturers demonstrate compliance with BABA requirements. Participating organizations undergo expert-led audits of their manufacturing facilities and their products to assess conformance with the supply chain evaluation process standard (NEMA 70901-2024) and verify application of specific criteria to designated products. Certified facilities and product lines are listed in the NEMA Make It American Program Certification and BABA Registry, making it easier for contractors and procurement officials to identify and source BABA-compliant products.
“ABB's achievement as the first company to earn Make It American certification for Electric Motor Systems marks a defining moment for the program and for American manufacturing. It signals to the market domestic motor manufacturing is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of our energy future,” said Alexa Burr, SVP of Strategic Growth and Membership, NEMA. “Electric motors play a critical role in our economy – converting nearly 50% of all electricity into motion across industrial, commercial and infrastructure applications. At a time when energy demand is surging, grid capacity is under mounting strain, ABB is demonstrating American manufacturers can deliver the sophisticated, efficiency-driven solutions our nation needs.”
About ABB
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. The company has over 140 years of history and more than 105,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.abb.com.
