GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Auto Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts innovation, leadership, satisfaction, and financial performance in auto industry.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

78% of automotive companies have implemented DEI initiatives

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Auto industry supplier diversity programs increased contract opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses by 25% in 2022

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35% of automotive industry employees believe that their companies lack adequate DEI policies

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Auto industry companies with strong DEI commitments see a 20% reduction in employee turnover

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Companies investing in DEI initiatives saw a 14% increase in employee engagement scores

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55% of automotive industry executives believe that implementing inclusive policies enhances company reputation

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The automotive industry’s spend on diversity and inclusion initiatives increased by 22% from 2021 to 2023

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65% of automotive companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) to promote inclusivity

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The percentage of automotive executives reporting DEI as a strategic priority increased from 40% in 2020 to 70% in 2023

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48% of automotive industry employees want their companies to prioritize mental health and well-being, alongside DEI

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Auto industry suppliers that actively promote inclusive practices report a 30% higher employee satisfaction rate

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Automotive industry companies with active DEI programs outperform peers on revenue growth by 18%

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45% of automotive consumer respondents prefer brands that demonstrate inclusivity and diversity

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82% of automotive consumers believe companies should publicly report on diversity and inclusion metrics

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Only 15% of automotive leadership roles are held by women

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Less than 5% of automotive CEO positions are held by women

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40% of automotive brands have committed to increasing diversity in their marketing and advertising campaigns

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LGBTQ+ representation in the auto industry is estimated at less than 3%

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82% of automotive industry professionals agree that diversity improves innovation

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Nearly 50% of minority employees in automotive report feeling that their workplace does not adequately support diversity

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The percentage of minority-owned automotive dealerships has increased by 15% over the past five years

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The auto industry’s supplier diversity programs have grown to include over 200 minority and women-owned suppliers

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The representation of women in STEM roles within automotive manufacturing has risen to 20%, up from 12% five years ago

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The share of minority-owned automotive businesses has grown by 18% over the past four years

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76% of automotive companies have set measurable goals related to diversity and inclusion

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Automotive companies that publicly disclose diversity metrics see 25% more stakeholder trust

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The percentage of automotive advertising campaigns featuring diverse individuals increased by 50% from 2020 to 2023

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The number of women in automotive engineering roles has increased by 22% over the past five years

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Minority entrepreneurs closing automotive dealerships increased their capital investment by an average of 20% in 2022

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The number of DEI training programs in automotive companies increased by 30% from 2020 to 2023

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70% of young automotive industry professionals consider diversity and inclusion a priority for their future employer

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58% of automotive industry leaders believe that diversity training improves team cohesion

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Automotive industry internships with targeted DEI programs increased by 40% in the last three years

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Women make up approximately 23% of the automotive workforce globally

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Ethnic minorities account for around 30% of new automotive industry hires in the United States

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Underrepresented minorities hold about 12% of executive positions in automotive companies

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The average age of auto industry employees is 42 years, with minority groups tending to be younger

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60% of women in automotive report experiencing some form of workplace bias

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The percentage of automotive dealerships owned by women is approximately 20%

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Only 10% of automotive engineers are women

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African Americans make up about 14% of the automotive workforce in the US

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Hispanic/Latino employees comprise approximately 18% of the automotive industry workforce

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Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors in profitability

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The retention rate of minority employees in the automotive industry increased by 12% after DEI initiatives were introduced

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The gender pay gap in the automotive industry stands at approximately 16%, with women earning less on average than men

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Asian Americans constitute about 8% of the automotive industry workforce

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Women in leadership roles within the automotive industry earn on average 25% less than their male counterparts

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Only 18% of automotive product design teams include women or minority members

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25% of automotive industry job postings now include diversity and inclusion as a preferred qualification

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The percentage of women in automotive supply chain roles increased from 10% to 17% in five years

Statistic 51

65% of automotive industry professionals agree that a diverse workforce leads to better customer understanding

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42% of automotive industry employees have reported witnessing discrimination in the workplace

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 23% of the automotive workforce globally
Ethnic minorities account for around 30% of new automotive industry hires in the United States
Only 15% of automotive leadership roles are held by women
Underrepresented minorities hold about 12% of executive positions in automotive companies
78% of automotive companies have implemented DEI initiatives
The average age of auto industry employees is 42 years, with minority groups tending to be younger
60% of women in automotive report experiencing some form of workplace bias
The percentage of automotive dealerships owned by women is approximately 20%
Auto industry supplier diversity programs increased contract opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses by 25% in 2022
Only 10% of automotive engineers are women
African Americans make up about 14% of the automotive workforce in the US
Hispanic/Latino employees comprise approximately 18% of the automotive industry workforce
35% of automotive industry employees believe that their companies lack adequate DEI policies

Driving towards a more inclusive future, the auto industry is witnessing a transformative shift as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives reshape workforce demographics, leadership representation, and consumer engagement, revealing both promising progress and critical challenges that fuel a need for deeper commitment across the globe.

Company Policies and Initiatives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

78% of automotive companies have implemented DEI initiatives
Auto industry supplier diversity programs increased contract opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses by 25% in 2022
35% of automotive industry employees believe that their companies lack adequate DEI policies
Auto industry companies with strong DEI commitments see a 20% reduction in employee turnover
Companies investing in DEI initiatives saw a 14% increase in employee engagement scores
55% of automotive industry executives believe that implementing inclusive policies enhances company reputation
The automotive industry’s spend on diversity and inclusion initiatives increased by 22% from 2021 to 2023
65% of automotive companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) to promote inclusivity
The percentage of automotive executives reporting DEI as a strategic priority increased from 40% in 2020 to 70% in 2023
48% of automotive industry employees want their companies to prioritize mental health and well-being, alongside DEI
Auto industry suppliers that actively promote inclusive practices report a 30% higher employee satisfaction rate
Automotive industry companies with active DEI programs outperform peers on revenue growth by 18%

Company Policies and Initiatives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Interpretation

Despite over three-quarters of auto industry firms pioneering DEI initiatives and a growing strategic commitment, nearly a third of employees still see gaps in policies, underscoring that true inclusion is more than a numbers game—it's a drive for genuine cultural overhaul that boosts engagement, retention, and revenue.

Consumer Attitudes and Market Perceptions

45% of automotive consumer respondents prefer brands that demonstrate inclusivity and diversity
82% of automotive consumers believe companies should publicly report on diversity and inclusion metrics

Consumer Attitudes and Market Perceptions Interpretation

With nearly half of consumers favoring inclusive brands and over 80% demanding transparency in D&I metrics, the auto industry must accelerate its diversity drive or risk revving into irrelevance.

Demographic Diversity and Representation

Only 15% of automotive leadership roles are held by women
Less than 5% of automotive CEO positions are held by women
40% of automotive brands have committed to increasing diversity in their marketing and advertising campaigns
LGBTQ+ representation in the auto industry is estimated at less than 3%
82% of automotive industry professionals agree that diversity improves innovation
Nearly 50% of minority employees in automotive report feeling that their workplace does not adequately support diversity
The percentage of minority-owned automotive dealerships has increased by 15% over the past five years
The auto industry’s supplier diversity programs have grown to include over 200 minority and women-owned suppliers
The representation of women in STEM roles within automotive manufacturing has risen to 20%, up from 12% five years ago
The share of minority-owned automotive businesses has grown by 18% over the past four years
76% of automotive companies have set measurable goals related to diversity and inclusion
Automotive companies that publicly disclose diversity metrics see 25% more stakeholder trust
The percentage of automotive advertising campaigns featuring diverse individuals increased by 50% from 2020 to 2023
The number of women in automotive engineering roles has increased by 22% over the past five years
Minority entrepreneurs closing automotive dealerships increased their capital investment by an average of 20% in 2022

Demographic Diversity and Representation Interpretation

While automotive industry statistics reveal promising strides toward diversity—such as a 22% increase in women engineers and rising minority-owned dealerships—the stark realities of underrepresentation in leadership and LGBTQ+ inclusion underscore that the road to genuine equity remains a challenging ride ahead.

Industry Workforce Development and Training

The number of DEI training programs in automotive companies increased by 30% from 2020 to 2023
70% of young automotive industry professionals consider diversity and inclusion a priority for their future employer
58% of automotive industry leaders believe that diversity training improves team cohesion
Automotive industry internships with targeted DEI programs increased by 40% in the last three years

Industry Workforce Development and Training Interpretation

With a 30% surge in DEI training programs and a 40% rise in targeted internships, the auto industry is shifting gears toward inclusivity, driven not just by moral compass but by a burgeoning recognition that diversity isn’t just good ethics—it's good business, especially to win over the next generation of professionals who see D&I as a priority for their future.

Workforce Composition and Leadership Roles

Women make up approximately 23% of the automotive workforce globally
Ethnic minorities account for around 30% of new automotive industry hires in the United States
Underrepresented minorities hold about 12% of executive positions in automotive companies
The average age of auto industry employees is 42 years, with minority groups tending to be younger
60% of women in automotive report experiencing some form of workplace bias
The percentage of automotive dealerships owned by women is approximately 20%
Only 10% of automotive engineers are women
African Americans make up about 14% of the automotive workforce in the US
Hispanic/Latino employees comprise approximately 18% of the automotive industry workforce
Companies with diverse leadership are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors in profitability
The retention rate of minority employees in the automotive industry increased by 12% after DEI initiatives were introduced
The gender pay gap in the automotive industry stands at approximately 16%, with women earning less on average than men
Asian Americans constitute about 8% of the automotive industry workforce
Women in leadership roles within the automotive industry earn on average 25% less than their male counterparts
Only 18% of automotive product design teams include women or minority members
25% of automotive industry job postings now include diversity and inclusion as a preferred qualification
The percentage of women in automotive supply chain roles increased from 10% to 17% in five years
65% of automotive industry professionals agree that a diverse workforce leads to better customer understanding
42% of automotive industry employees have reported witnessing discrimination in the workplace

Workforce Composition and Leadership Roles Interpretation

Despite incremental progress, the auto industry's diversity statistics reveal a largely male and monocultural ride—underscoring the pressing need for genuine inclusion to accelerate innovation and equality on the fast lane.