GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Automobile Industry Statistics

Automotive industry enhances profits through diverse leadership and inclusive policies.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Minority-owned auto dealerships account for approximately 4% of all dealerships in the U.S.

Statistic 2

52% of minority auto dealership owners reported increased access to capital after implementing DEI policies

Statistic 3

The global automotive industry is projected to spend over $2 billion on diversity and inclusion initiatives annually by 2025

Statistic 4

The percentage of automotive industry suppliers with formal D&I policies increased from 20% in 2018 to 45% in 2023

Statistic 5

The number of publicly traded automotive companies with DEI sustainability reports increased by 60% between 2019 and 2022

Statistic 6

Ethnic minorities constitute only 15% of the automotive industry’s senior management roles globally

Statistic 7

85% of automotive employees agree that improved DEI initiatives help retain top talent

Statistic 8

In 2022, racial minorities held only 10% of executive leadership roles in the automotive industry worldwide

Statistic 9

Companies with strong DEI rankings are 4 times more likely to outperform their competitors financially

Statistic 10

Implementation of mentorship programs for minority employees in automotive companies increases promotion rates by 30%

Statistic 11

80% of automotive companies report that addressing DEI issues has improved team performance

Statistic 12

There is a 20% higher representation of minorities in executive roles in companies that have explicit D&I policies

Statistic 13

Companies in the automobile industry with diverse leadership teams experience a 35% higher return on equity compared to less diverse companies

Statistic 14

Women make up approximately 20% of leadership roles in the global automotive industry

Statistic 15

45% of automotive employees have reported experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the workplace

Statistic 16

The automotive industry aims to reach 40% participation of underrepresented groups in its workforce by 2025

Statistic 17

50% of auto dealerships in the U.S. do not actively implement diversity and inclusion policies

Statistic 18

Companies with inclusive cultures are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in the automotive tech sector

Statistic 19

In the automotive manufacturing sector, approximately 32% of workers are women

Statistic 20

65% of automotive industry employees agree that improving diversity and inclusion would positively impact their company's productivity

Statistic 21

Only 10% of automotive companies regularly track diversity metrics

Statistic 22

LGBTQ+ representation in the automotive industry is estimated at less than 5%

Statistic 23

70% of automotive companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent

Statistic 24

The average age of workers in the automotive manufacturing industry is 44 years, with ethnic minorities slightly younger at 42 years

Statistic 25

Women in automotive repair roles earn on average 8% less than their male counterparts

Statistic 26

Only 12% of automotive leadership roles are held by women

Statistic 27

78% of automotive industry employees believe that increased DEI initiatives lead to better customer insights

Statistic 28

Approximately 28% of automotive engineering graduates are women, but only 10% of those enter the automotive manufacturing sector

Statistic 29

Automotive companies that are recognized for their DEI programs see a 25% higher employee retention rate

Statistic 30

40% of auto industry suppliers are now mandated to report on their diversity efforts

Statistic 31

Autotech companies with the most diverse candidate pools outperform less diverse counterparts by 15% in innovation metrics

Statistic 32

60% of automotive executives believe that D&I efforts could significantly enhance their brand image

Statistic 33

55% of automotive companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs

Statistic 34

Only 22% of automotive jobs are flexible or part-time roles, which disproportionately affects women and minority groups

Statistic 35

Approximately 18% of automotive tech executives are women, with representation increasing slightly over the past five years

Statistic 36

Auto OEMs that have publicly committed to diverse hiring report a 12% higher customer satisfaction index

Statistic 37

33% of automotive industry board members are women

Statistic 38

Female representation among automotive technicians increased by 5% in the past three years, but women still make up less than 15% of the workforce

Statistic 39

The adoption of inclusive hiring practices in the automotive industry has increased by 40% since 2019

Statistic 40

Only 14% of automotive executives consider DEI a strategic priority

Statistic 41

65% of automotive industry survey respondents believe that DEI improvements lead to better innovation capabilities

Statistic 42

Youth from underrepresented backgrounds are 50% less likely to seek careers in automotive manufacturing

Statistic 43

Auto parts companies with proactive D&I policies saw a 20% increase in market share over five years

Statistic 44

38% of automotive industry employees have observed workplace bias or microaggressions

Statistic 45

The percentage of automotive industry workforce identifying as Hispanic or Latino increased by 3% over the past decade

Statistic 46

72% of automotive executives agree that diversity initiatives directly impact company innovation

Statistic 47

Automotive industry internship programs that target underrepresented groups see a 50% higher participation rate

Statistic 48

The percentage of women in automotive leadership roles has increased by 10% since 2018

Statistic 49

The automotive industry’s spend on accessibility improvements for disabled employees increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 50

58% of automotive companies have diversity and inclusion dedicated leadership roles

Statistic 51

The percentage of auto manufacturing workers actively engaged in DEI training is now 55%, up from 18% five years ago

Statistic 52

70% of automotive industry employees feel that their companies could do more to promote diversity and inclusion

Statistic 53

41% of automotive OEMs have set measurable diversity goals for 2025

Statistic 54

Representation of Black professionals in automotive engineering increased by 7% over the past five years

Statistic 55

25% of automotive companies offer diversity and inclusion training as a mandatory part of onboarding

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Key Highlights

Companies in the automobile industry with diverse leadership teams experience a 35% higher return on equity compared to less diverse companies
Women make up approximately 20% of leadership roles in the global automotive industry
45% of automotive employees have reported experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the workplace
The automotive industry aims to reach 40% participation of underrepresented groups in its workforce by 2025
50% of auto dealerships in the U.S. do not actively implement diversity and inclusion policies
Ethnic minorities constitute only 15% of the automotive industry’s senior management roles globally
Companies with inclusive cultures are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in the automotive tech sector
In the automotive manufacturing sector, approximately 32% of workers are women
65% of automotive industry employees agree that improving diversity and inclusion would positively impact their company's productivity
Only 10% of automotive companies regularly track diversity metrics
LGBTQ+ representation in the automotive industry is estimated at less than 5%
Minority-owned auto dealerships account for approximately 4% of all dealerships in the U.S.
70% of automotive companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent

Despite ongoing challenges, the automotive industry is awakening to the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with data showing that companies embracing diverse leadership and inclusive practices see significant boosts in innovation, performance, and employee retention—highlighting an urgent need for the industry to accelerate its DEI efforts before the 2025 targets.

Dealership Ownership and Supplier Diversity

Minority-owned auto dealerships account for approximately 4% of all dealerships in the U.S.
52% of minority auto dealership owners reported increased access to capital after implementing DEI policies

Dealership Ownership and Supplier Diversity Interpretation

Despite minority-owned dealerships comprising just 4% of U.S. auto dealerships, over half report that embracing DEI policies has driven increased access to capital, proving that inclusion isn't just morally right—it's a smart business move.

Industry Initiatives and Diversity Programs

The global automotive industry is projected to spend over $2 billion on diversity and inclusion initiatives annually by 2025
The percentage of automotive industry suppliers with formal D&I policies increased from 20% in 2018 to 45% in 2023
The number of publicly traded automotive companies with DEI sustainability reports increased by 60% between 2019 and 2022

Industry Initiatives and Diversity Programs Interpretation

As the automotive industry accelerates toward a more inclusive horizon—with spending soaring, policies doubling, and transparency revving up—it's clear that driving diversity now isn't just ethical but essential for steering into the future.

Leadership and Career Advancement Opportunities

Ethnic minorities constitute only 15% of the automotive industry’s senior management roles globally
85% of automotive employees agree that improved DEI initiatives help retain top talent
In 2022, racial minorities held only 10% of executive leadership roles in the automotive industry worldwide
Companies with strong DEI rankings are 4 times more likely to outperform their competitors financially
Implementation of mentorship programs for minority employees in automotive companies increases promotion rates by 30%
80% of automotive companies report that addressing DEI issues has improved team performance
There is a 20% higher representation of minorities in executive roles in companies that have explicit D&I policies

Leadership and Career Advancement Opportunities Interpretation

Despite minorities making up only a fraction of the automotive industry's leadership, the data clearly shows that embracing robust DEI initiatives not only accelerates talent retention and promotion for underrepresented groups but also drives outperforming financial results, underscoring that inclusivity isn't just ethical—it's essential for competitive success.

Workforce Demographics and Diversity Representation

Companies in the automobile industry with diverse leadership teams experience a 35% higher return on equity compared to less diverse companies
Women make up approximately 20% of leadership roles in the global automotive industry
45% of automotive employees have reported experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the workplace
The automotive industry aims to reach 40% participation of underrepresented groups in its workforce by 2025
50% of auto dealerships in the U.S. do not actively implement diversity and inclusion policies
Companies with inclusive cultures are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in the automotive tech sector
In the automotive manufacturing sector, approximately 32% of workers are women
65% of automotive industry employees agree that improving diversity and inclusion would positively impact their company's productivity
Only 10% of automotive companies regularly track diversity metrics
LGBTQ+ representation in the automotive industry is estimated at less than 5%
70% of automotive companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent
The average age of workers in the automotive manufacturing industry is 44 years, with ethnic minorities slightly younger at 42 years
Women in automotive repair roles earn on average 8% less than their male counterparts
Only 12% of automotive leadership roles are held by women
78% of automotive industry employees believe that increased DEI initiatives lead to better customer insights
Approximately 28% of automotive engineering graduates are women, but only 10% of those enter the automotive manufacturing sector
Automotive companies that are recognized for their DEI programs see a 25% higher employee retention rate
40% of auto industry suppliers are now mandated to report on their diversity efforts
Autotech companies with the most diverse candidate pools outperform less diverse counterparts by 15% in innovation metrics
60% of automotive executives believe that D&I efforts could significantly enhance their brand image
55% of automotive companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs
Only 22% of automotive jobs are flexible or part-time roles, which disproportionately affects women and minority groups
Approximately 18% of automotive tech executives are women, with representation increasing slightly over the past five years
Auto OEMs that have publicly committed to diverse hiring report a 12% higher customer satisfaction index
33% of automotive industry board members are women
Female representation among automotive technicians increased by 5% in the past three years, but women still make up less than 15% of the workforce
The adoption of inclusive hiring practices in the automotive industry has increased by 40% since 2019
Only 14% of automotive executives consider DEI a strategic priority
65% of automotive industry survey respondents believe that DEI improvements lead to better innovation capabilities
Youth from underrepresented backgrounds are 50% less likely to seek careers in automotive manufacturing
Auto parts companies with proactive D&I policies saw a 20% increase in market share over five years
38% of automotive industry employees have observed workplace bias or microaggressions
The percentage of automotive industry workforce identifying as Hispanic or Latino increased by 3% over the past decade
72% of automotive executives agree that diversity initiatives directly impact company innovation
Automotive industry internship programs that target underrepresented groups see a 50% higher participation rate
The percentage of women in automotive leadership roles has increased by 10% since 2018
The automotive industry’s spend on accessibility improvements for disabled employees increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023
58% of automotive companies have diversity and inclusion dedicated leadership roles
The percentage of auto manufacturing workers actively engaged in DEI training is now 55%, up from 18% five years ago
70% of automotive industry employees feel that their companies could do more to promote diversity and inclusion
41% of automotive OEMs have set measurable diversity goals for 2025
Representation of Black professionals in automotive engineering increased by 7% over the past five years
25% of automotive companies offer diversity and inclusion training as a mandatory part of onboarding

Workforce Demographics and Diversity Representation Interpretation

Despite mounting evidence that inclusive leadership boosts profitability and innovation—companies with diverse teams enjoying a 35% higher return on equity—surprisingly, only a fraction of the automotive industry has fully committed to actionable DEI initiatives, highlighting the urgent need to turn aspirational goals into tangible change on the showroom floor and beyond.