With a wave of roaring assembly lines driving production to over 10.6 million vehicles last year, the American auto industry is flexing its muscle and accelerating into a complex, tech-driven future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. light vehicle production totaled 10.6 million units, a 6.4% increase from 2022
- U.S. automobile manufacturing output grew by 4.2% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022
- Ford Motor Company produced 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2023
- In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 950,000 employees in motor vehicle manufacturing
- Automotive industry supported 10.7 million jobs in the U.S. in 2023 including supply chain
- Michigan had 286,000 auto-related jobs in 2023
- Auto industry contributed $580 billion to U.S. GDP in 2023
- Motor vehicles manufacturing GDP was $280 billion in 2023
- Auto exports generated $60 billion in revenue for U.S. in 2023
- U.S. autonomous driving patents filed totaled 12,000 in 2023
- EV charging stations in U.S. reached 168,000 in 2023
- Average fuel economy of new U.S. vehicles was 26.4 mpg in 2023
- GM held 18% U.S. light vehicle market share in 2023
- Ford captured 13.5% U.S. market share in 2023
- Toyota's U.S. share was 14.2% in 2023
U.S. auto production and sales grew strongly last year, particularly for trucks and electric vehicles.
Economic Impact
- Auto industry contributed $580 billion to U.S. GDP in 2023
- Motor vehicles manufacturing GDP was $280 billion in 2023
- Auto exports generated $60 billion in revenue for U.S. in 2023
- U.S. auto retail sales added $1.1 trillion to economy in 2023
- Supplier spending by OEMs totaled $250 billion domestically in 2023
- Auto industry taxes paid $120 billion federally in 2023
- U.S. auto R&D investment was $85 billion in 2023
- EV incentives under IRA boosted economy by $40 billion in 2023
- Michigan auto GDP contribution was $120 billion in 2023
- U.S. auto imports cost $200 billion in 2023
- Aftermarket parts market valued at $400 billion in U.S. 2023
- Fuel economy standards saved consumers $50 billion in 2023
- U.S. auto financing market was $1.2 trillion outstanding in 2023
- Tariffs on imported vehicles generated $20 billion revenue in 2023
- Auto insurance premiums totaled $280 billion in U.S. 2023
- Supply chain disruptions cost U.S. auto $30 billion in 2023
- EV battery production added $15 billion to GDP in 2023
- U.S. auto leasing market grew to $150 billion in 2023
- Road fuel taxes from autos yielded $50 billion in 2023
- Auto dealer profits hit $180 billion gross in 2023
- Investment in U.S. auto plants was $20 billion in 2023
- Trade deficit in autos was $140 billion in 2023
- Recycling of auto materials generated $40 billion value in 2023
- U.S. auto advertising spend was $8 billion in 2023
- Consumer spending on vehicle maintenance was $120 billion in 2023
- Auto contributed 3% to U.S. CPI inflation in 2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
The auto industry is a behemoth that churns out everything from economic salvation to trade headaches, proving that for America, the car isn't just a mode of transport—it's the entire engine of commerce, for better and for worse.
Employment and Workforce
- In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 950,000 employees in motor vehicle manufacturing
- Automotive industry supported 10.7 million jobs in the U.S. in 2023 including supply chain
- Michigan had 286,000 auto-related jobs in 2023
- Average hourly wage for U.S. auto assembly workers was $32.50 in 2023
- UAW represented 145,000 workers at Detroit Three in 2023 strikes
- Women comprised 28% of U.S. auto manufacturing workforce in 2023
- U.S. auto R&D employment reached 320,000 in 2023
- Supplier jobs in U.S. auto industry totaled 9.2 million in 2023
- Turnover rate in U.S. auto plants was 15% in 2023 pre-strikes
- GM employed 163,000 in U.S. in 2023
- Ford U.S. workforce was 57,000 manufacturing jobs in 2023
- Stellantis U.S. employees numbered 88,000 in 2023
- Tesla U.S. headcount grew to 72,000 in 2023
- Apprenticeships in U.S. auto sector trained 25,000 workers in 2023
- Hispanic workers made up 22% of U.S. auto manufacturing in 2023
- Auto dealer employment was 1.2 million in U.S. 2023
- Skilled trades shortage affected 40% of U.S. auto plants in 2023
- Post-UAW strike, GM rehired 3,000 temps as permanent in 2023
- Average age of U.S. auto worker was 44 years in 2023
- Union membership in U.S. auto industry was 52% in 2023
- Entry-level auto tech wages averaged $22/hour in 2023
- Rivian added 4,000 manufacturing jobs in Georgia plant 2023
- U.S. auto logistics jobs totaled 250,000 in 2023
- Remote work affected 10% of U.S. auto corporate jobs in 2023
- Veteran hiring in U.S. auto reached 15,000 in 2023
- STEM education partnerships trained 50,000 for auto jobs in 2023
- U.S. auto industry labor productivity rose 2.1% in 2023
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
For every direct auto assembly job, the industry spins a sprawling web of nearly ten supporting jobs, yet this engine of American employment still sputters with stubborn turnover, skills gaps, and a pressing need to shift its demographic gears toward greater diversity and younger talent.
Innovation and Technology
- U.S. autonomous driving patents filed totaled 12,000 in 2023
- EV charging stations in U.S. reached 168,000 in 2023
- Average fuel economy of new U.S. vehicles was 26.4 mpg in 2023
- U.S. auto software-defined vehicle adoption hit 40% in 2023 models
- ADAS features in 75% of new U.S. vehicles in 2023
- U.S. battery gigafactory capacity announced 500 GWh by 2023
- 5G connectivity in vehicles launched in 15 U.S. models 2023
- U.S. lidar suppliers grew to 20 firms investing $2B in 2023
- Hydrogen fuel cell patents doubled to 1,500 in U.S. 2023
- Over-the-air updates delivered to 10 million U.S. vehicles in 2023
- U.S. V2G technology pilots served 5,000 EVs in 2023
- AI in manufacturing reduced defects by 25% at U.S. plants 2023
- Solid-state battery R&D funding hit $1B in U.S. 2023
- Digital twin tech used in 60% of U.S. auto design 2023
- U.S. robot density in auto plants was 1,200 per 10,000 workers 2023
- Blockchain for supply chain piloted by 10 U.S. OEMs in 2023
- AR/VR training reduced onboarding time 30% in U.S. plants 2023
- U.S. Level 3 autonomy approved in 3 states for 2023
- Quantum computing trials for crash sims by GM in 2023
- Sustainable materials in 45% of new U.S. interiors 2023
- Edge computing in 20 million U.S. fleet vehicles 2023
- U.S. 48V mild hybrid systems in 25% light trucks 2023
- Cybersecurity incidents reported 500 in U.S. vehicles 2023
- Biometric access in 10 luxury models U.S. 2023
- Additive manufacturing parts up 50% in U.S. production 2023
- U.S. Ford F-150 Lightning EV sales 24,000 in 2023
- GM Ultium battery produced 100 GWh in U.S. 2023
- Tesla Full Self-Driving beta on 1M U.S. cars 2023
- GM Super Cruise miles driven 200M in U.S. 2023
- U.S. auto industry R&D spend per vehicle $1,800 in 2023
- Ford's BlueCruise hands-free miles 500M in U.S. 2023
Innovation and Technology Interpretation
We are feverishly reinventing the car to be a rolling supercomputer, as evidenced by a flood of patents and software, yet this high-tech race is still pacing itself against a rather humble 26.4 mile-per-gallon reality.
Market Share and Competition
- GM held 18% U.S. light vehicle market share in 2023
- Ford captured 13.5% U.S. market share in 2023
- Toyota's U.S. share was 14.2% in 2023
- Tesla achieved 9.1% BEV market share in U.S. 2023
- Stellantis held 12.8% U.S. share in 2023
- Honda's market share 8.7% in U.S. 2023
- Nissan U.S. share dropped to 6.1% in 2023
- Hyundai-Kia combined 9.5% U.S. market in 2023
- Import brands held 48% U.S. light vehicle share 2023
- Domestic OEMs share 52% U.S. sales in 2023
- Pickup segment Ford F-Series 15% total market share 2023
- Ram trucks 10% U.S. pickup share in 2023
- Chevy Silverado 9.5% pickup share U.S. 2023
- SUV/CUV segment 52% U.S. market share 2023
- Toyota RAV4 top SUV with 8% segment share 2023
- Tesla Model Y 7.2% EV SUV share U.S. 2023
- Luxury segment BMW 2.1% total market 2023
- Mercedes U.S. share 1.8% in 2023
- Aftermarket dominated by Bosch 15% parts share 2023
- Chinese imports share grew to 2.5% U.S. market 2023
- Rivian captured 1.2% EV pickup share 2023
- Lucid 0.3% luxury EV share U.S. 2023
- U.S. dealers controlled 95% new vehicle sales 2023
- Online sales share reached 15% U.S. vehicles 2023
- Fleet share stable at 22% total U.S. sales 2023
- Subaru U.S. share 4.2% boosted by Outback 2023
- VW Group 4.5% U.S. market share 2023
- Mazda 2.1% share with CX-5 leading 2023
- Used market CarMax 1.5% share volume 2023
- Auction houses 60% used wholesale share 2023
- OEM direct sales pilots 5% in select states 2023
Market Share and Competition Interpretation
Despite a landscape where trucks and SUVs still dominate over half the market and dealerships cling to 95% of sales, the true story is a tightening three-horse race between GM, Toyota, and Ford, with a significant asterisk that import brands now collectively claim nearly half of all American driveways.
Production and Sales
- In 2023, U.S. light vehicle production totaled 10.6 million units, a 6.4% increase from 2022
- U.S. automobile manufacturing output grew by 4.2% in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022
- Ford Motor Company produced 1.8 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2023
- General Motors assembled 2.1 million vehicles at its U.S. plants in 2023
- U.S. light truck production reached 6.2 million units in 2023, accounting for 58% of total production
- Passenger car production in the U.S. fell to 4.4 million units in 2023, down 2% from 2022
- Stellantis produced 1.4 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2023
- U.S. vehicle exports totaled 2.3 million units in 2023, up 12% year-over-year
- New vehicle sales in the U.S. hit 15.5 million units in 2023
- SUV sales accounted for 52% of U.S. new vehicle sales in 2023 with 8.1 million units sold
- Pickup truck sales in the U.S. reached 2.9 million units in 2023, led by Ford F-Series
- Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. surged to 1.2 million units in 2023, a 50% increase
- Toyota sold 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2023
- Honda U.S. sales totaled 1.3 million units in 2023
- U.S. new light vehicle retail sales averaged 13.7 million annually from 2019-2023
- Tesla delivered 654,000 vehicles from U.S. factories in 2023
- U.S. auto production capacity utilization was 82% in 2023
- Rivian produced 57,000 vehicles at its U.S. plant in Normal, IL in 2023
- U.S. vehicle production downtime due to chip shortage was 1.2 million units in 2023
- GM's Factory ZERO in Detroit produced 35,000 EVs in 2023
- Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant output was 250,000 F-150s in 2023
- U.S. hybrid vehicle sales grew 40% to 1.1 million units in 2023
- Average U.S. new vehicle transaction price was $48,759 in December 2023
- U.S. used vehicle sales totaled 35.2 million units in 2023
- Luxury vehicle sales in U.S. reached 860,000 units in 2023
- Fleet sales accounted for 22% of U.S. new vehicle sales in 2023
- U.S. motorcycle production was 450,000 units in 2023
- Heavy-duty truck production in U.S. hit 320,000 units in 2023
- U.S. vehicle scrappage rate was 11 million units in 2023
- Q1 2024 U.S. light vehicle sales were 3.1 million units, down 1.5% YoY
Production and Sales Interpretation
While America's auto industry drove forward with production and exports in 2023, its heart was clearly in the land of trucks and SUVs, even as its head began to seriously consider an electric future and its wallet winced at the price.
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