GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Car Industry Statistics

Diversity boosts automotive innovation, performance, customer satisfaction, and employee morale.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

40% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that demonstrates commitment to diversity and inclusion

Statistic 2

35% of automotive millennials are willing to switch brands for better diversity policies

Statistic 3

Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors

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Women make up approximately 19% of automotive executives worldwide

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The global automotive market is about 4.5% Black, Latinx, or Hispanic individuals in senior leadership roles

Statistic 6

In the U.S., Hispanic Americans hold approximately 11% of automotive executive roles

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Only 10% of senior leadership in the automotive sector is female

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Automotive dealerships with diverse leadership have 22% higher customer satisfaction scores

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Asian Americans constitute 6% of automotive executive roles nationally

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The average tenure of minority executives in automotive is 4.2 years, below the industry average of 6.1 years

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29% of automotive executives prioritize diversity and inclusion when making business decisions

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67% of automotive employees believe that leadership should actively promote diversity

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Only 8% of automotive engineers are women

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Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in automotive manufacturing jobs, accounting for about 22% of the workforce

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Only 4% of automotive marketing executives are from minority backgrounds

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Female representation in automotive design roles is approximately 12%

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The percentage of women in automotive manufacturing roles has increased by 3% over the past five years

Statistic 18

Recruitment of underrepresented groups in automotive sales and service roles increased 18% in 2022

Statistic 19

Only 6% of automotive advertising campaigns feature diverse models or themes

Statistic 20

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

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Around 54% of automotive employees believe their company’s diversity efforts are insufficient

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62% of auto industry employees believe inclusion efforts positively impact innovation

Statistic 23

The rate of diversity-focused hiring initiatives in the industry increased by 27% in 2022

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23% of millennial automotive employees prioritize companies with strong DEI policies

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Companies with high racial and gender diversity are 15% more likely to have above-average profit margins

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65% of automotive companies report that DEI initiatives have helped improve employee morale

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78% of auto industry employees agree that diversity improves team creativity

Statistic 28

The percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals in the automotive workforce is estimated at around 4%

Statistic 29

42% of automotive companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) for minority groups

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58% of auto industry executives believe that increasing diversity will lead to better financial performance

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The mobility sector has seen a 12% increase in female participation over the past three years

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The number of automotive companies publishing annual DEI reports increased by 40% from 2019 to 2023

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46% of minority automotive employees report experiencing workplace bias

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69% of auto companies with strong DEI initiatives report higher employee engagement

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52% of women in automotive report gender bias as a barrier to career advancement

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071% of automotive executives believe that DEI practices help attract top talent

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Auto industry suppliers with diverse supplier bases experience 17% higher innovation output

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Automotive industry training programs aimed at underrepresented groups increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023

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41% of automotive companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent due to skill gaps

Statistic 40

78% of automotive companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs

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Key Highlights

  • Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors
  • Women make up approximately 19% of automotive executives worldwide
  • Only 8% of automotive engineers are women
  • The global automotive market is about 4.5% Black, Latinx, or Hispanic individuals in senior leadership roles
  • 40% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that demonstrates commitment to diversity and inclusion
  • Around 54% of automotive employees believe their company’s diversity efforts are insufficient
  • In the U.S., Hispanic Americans hold approximately 11% of automotive executive roles
  • Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in automotive manufacturing jobs, accounting for about 22% of the workforce
  • 62% of auto industry employees believe inclusion efforts positively impact innovation
  • The rate of diversity-focused hiring initiatives in the industry increased by 27% in 2022
  • Only 4% of automotive marketing executives are from minority backgrounds
  • Female representation in automotive design roles is approximately 12%
  • 23% of millennial automotive employees prioritize companies with strong DEI policies

Revving into a more inclusive future, the automotive industry reveals that while diverse leadership correlates with better performance and innovation, women and minorities remain underrepresented, highlighting both progress and the road ahead in embracing true equity.

Consumer Preferences and Market Impact of Diversity

  • 40% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that demonstrates commitment to diversity and inclusion
  • 35% of automotive millennials are willing to switch brands for better diversity policies

Consumer Preferences and Market Impact of Diversity Interpretation

With nearly half of consumers favoring brands that prioritize diversity and over a third of millennials ready to switch allegiances for better inclusion, the car industry’s drive for diversity isn’t just ethical—it’s essential to stay in the fast lane.

Leadership Diversity and Executive Inclusion

  • Companies with diverse leadership are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors
  • Women make up approximately 19% of automotive executives worldwide
  • The global automotive market is about 4.5% Black, Latinx, or Hispanic individuals in senior leadership roles
  • In the U.S., Hispanic Americans hold approximately 11% of automotive executive roles
  • Only 10% of senior leadership in the automotive sector is female
  • Automotive dealerships with diverse leadership have 22% higher customer satisfaction scores
  • Asian Americans constitute 6% of automotive executive roles nationally
  • The average tenure of minority executives in automotive is 4.2 years, below the industry average of 6.1 years
  • 29% of automotive executives prioritize diversity and inclusion when making business decisions
  • 67% of automotive employees believe that leadership should actively promote diversity

Leadership Diversity and Executive Inclusion Interpretation

While diverse leadership in the automotive industry correlates with better performance and higher customer satisfaction, the persistent underrepresentation of women and minorities highlights a pressing need for committed inclusion—because in an industry racing toward innovation, staying in the slow lane on diversity is no longer an option.

Representation of Women and Ethnic Minorities in Automotive

  • Only 8% of automotive engineers are women
  • Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in automotive manufacturing jobs, accounting for about 22% of the workforce
  • Only 4% of automotive marketing executives are from minority backgrounds
  • Female representation in automotive design roles is approximately 12%
  • The percentage of women in automotive manufacturing roles has increased by 3% over the past five years
  • Recruitment of underrepresented groups in automotive sales and service roles increased 18% in 2022
  • Only 6% of automotive advertising campaigns feature diverse models or themes
  • The share of minority-owned automotive dealerships increased by 15% over the past five years

Representation of Women and Ethnic Minorities in Automotive Interpretation

Despite modest gains in representation, the automotive industry still faces a long road to driving true diversity, equity, and inclusion — where gender and ethnic minorities are not just minor passengers but steering the wheel of innovation.

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

  • Around 54% of automotive employees believe their company’s diversity efforts are insufficient
  • 62% of auto industry employees believe inclusion efforts positively impact innovation
  • The rate of diversity-focused hiring initiatives in the industry increased by 27% in 2022
  • 23% of millennial automotive employees prioritize companies with strong DEI policies
  • Companies with high racial and gender diversity are 15% more likely to have above-average profit margins
  • 65% of automotive companies report that DEI initiatives have helped improve employee morale
  • 78% of auto industry employees agree that diversity improves team creativity
  • The percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals in the automotive workforce is estimated at around 4%
  • 42% of automotive companies have established employee resource groups (ERGs) for minority groups
  • 58% of auto industry executives believe that increasing diversity will lead to better financial performance
  • The mobility sector has seen a 12% increase in female participation over the past three years
  • The number of automotive companies publishing annual DEI reports increased by 40% from 2019 to 2023
  • 46% of minority automotive employees report experiencing workplace bias
  • 69% of auto companies with strong DEI initiatives report higher employee engagement
  • 52% of women in automotive report gender bias as a barrier to career advancement
  • 071% of automotive executives believe that DEI practices help attract top talent
  • Auto industry suppliers with diverse supplier bases experience 17% higher innovation output
  • Automotive industry training programs aimed at underrepresented groups increased by 25% between 2020 and 2023
  • 41% of automotive companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent due to skill gaps
  • 78% of automotive companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs

Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While over half of auto industry employees see room for improvement in diversity efforts, the growing evidence that inclusive workplaces boost innovation, morale, and profits underscores that embracing diversity isn’t just ethical—it's essential for automotive industry acceleration.