From the sheer scale of producing over a million vehicles and tens of millions of parts to the profound economic impact felt by thousands of families, Michigan's auto industry is not just building cars but driving the very heart of American manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan's automotive assembly plants produced 1,284,000 vehicles in 2022, accounting for 22% of total U.S. light vehicle production.
- Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan assembled 456,789 F-Series trucks in 2022, the highest single model output in the state.
- General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant shifted to all-electric vehicle production, manufacturing 45,000 Ultium-based EVs in 2023.
- Michigan automotive industry employed 292,000 workers directly in manufacturing in 2023 Q1.
- The Detroit metro area had 112,400 automotive manufacturing jobs in March 2023.
- GM employs 52,000 people in Michigan across 17 facilities as of 2023.
- Michigan auto industry generated $56.8 billion in total economic output in 2022.
- The sector contributed $12.4 billion in state and local taxes in Michigan 2022.
- Auto manufacturing accounts for 18.5% of Michigan's total manufacturing GDP in 2023.
- Michigan light vehicle sales totaled 452,000 units in 2022, 12% of U.S. total.
- Ford sold 178,000 vehicles in Michigan in 2022, leading with 39% market share.
- GM retailed 112,400 light vehicles in Michigan 2023 YTD.
- Michigan invested $1.8 billion in auto R&D in 2022, focusing on EVs.
- MCity at University of Michigan tested 1,200 autonomous miles daily in 2023.
- Ford's $2 billion Michigan Central redevelopment hub for AV tech opened 2023.
Michigan remains America's automotive heartland, producing millions of vehicles and components while transitioning to electric.
Economic Contribution
- Michigan auto industry generated $56.8 billion in total economic output in 2022.
- The sector contributed $12.4 billion in state and local taxes in Michigan 2022.
- Auto manufacturing accounts for 18.5% of Michigan's total manufacturing GDP in 2023.
- Michigan suppliers exported $28.7 billion in automotive parts globally in 2022.
- The industry supports $24.3 billion in personal income for Michigan households 2022.
- GM's Michigan operations contribute $23 billion annually to state GDP.
- Ford's economic impact in Michigan totals $15.7 billion yearly including multipliers.
- Stellantis adds $10.2 billion to Michigan's economy through direct and indirect effects 2022.
- Lear Corporation's Michigan footprint generates $4.8 billion in economic activity 2023.
- Magna's Michigan operations contribute $3.1 billion to local GDP annually.
- Denso's economic output in Michigan reaches $2.9 billion including supply chain 2022.
- Faurecia contributes $2.4 billion to Michigan economy via interiors production 2023.
- BorgWarner's Michigan impact is $1.7 billion in economic value added 2022.
- Adient's seating operations add $1.5 billion to Michigan GDP 2023.
- AAM contributes $2.2 billion economically in Michigan through driveline production.
- Cooper-Standard's fluid systems generate $1.8 billion in Michigan economic impact 2022.
- Autoliv's safety tech adds $900 million to state economy annually.
- Yanfeng interiors contribute $1.3 billion in Michigan economic activity 2023.
- Meritor's axle production supports $1.1 billion GDP contribution in Michigan 2022.
- Toyoda Gosei plastics add $1.6 billion to Michigan economy 2023.
- NHK Spring's suspensions contribute $800 million economically in Michigan 2022.
- GKN Automotive adds $1.2 billion via Michigan EV components 2023.
- Benteler chassis systems generate $1.4 billion impact in Michigan 2022.
- Michigan auto R&D spending reached $12.5 billion in 2022.
Economic Contribution Interpretation
While Michigan's economy can certainly get from point A to point B without its auto industry, this $56.8 billion engine ensures the ride is a lot smoother, better funded, and filled with well-paid passengers.
Employment Statistics
- Michigan automotive industry employed 292,000 workers directly in manufacturing in 2023 Q1.
- The Detroit metro area had 112,400 automotive manufacturing jobs in March 2023.
- GM employs 52,000 people in Michigan across 17 facilities as of 2023.
- Ford has 55,000 Michigan-based employees, including 12,000 at Dearborn HQ in 2022.
- Stellantis employs 38,000 in Michigan, with 10,000 at its Auburn Hills headquarters in 2023.
- Lear Corporation supports 22,000 U.S. jobs, with 8,500 in Michigan facilities in 2022.
- Magna International employs 6,200 in Michigan across 20 locations as of 2023.
- Denso employs 9,000 in Michigan, focusing on thermal and powertrain systems in 2022.
- Faurecia (Forvia) has 4,500 Michigan employees in seating and interiors divisions 2023.
- BorgWarner employs 2,800 at its Cadillac, Michigan plant and regional offices in 2022.
- Adient PLC supports 3,200 jobs in Michigan seating manufacturing in 2023.
- American Axle & Manufacturing has 4,000 Michigan employees across 12 facilities in 2022.
- Cooper-Standard employs 7,100 globally but 2,900 in Michigan operations 2023.
- Autoliv employs 1,200 in Auburn Hills, Michigan for safety systems R&D and production 2022.
- Yanfeng Automotive Interiors has 2,500 Michigan-based workers in 2023.
- Meritor employs 1,100 in Troy, Michigan headquarters and nearby plants 2022.
- Tower International (now Shiloh) employs 1,500 in Michigan stamping plants 2023.
- Webasto employs 800 in Plymouth, Michigan for roof systems production 2022.
- Hutchinson employs 1,400 across Michigan sealing plants in 2023.
- Toyoda Gosei employs 3,000 in Huron, Michigan plastics facility 2022.
- NHK Spring employs 900 in Michigan suspension components plants 2023.
- GKN Automotive employs 1,600 in Rayong but 700 in Michigan U.S. ops 2022.
- Benteler employs 2,200 in North America, 1,100 specifically Michigan 2023.
- Yorozu employs 800 in Michigan for suspension parts 2022.
- Futaba employs 650 in Michigan exhaust manufacturing 2023.
- Sanshin Industries employs 500 in Michigan brake production 2022.
- Automotive industry supports 1.1 million total jobs in Michigan including indirect in 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Michigan's auto industry is less a single engine and more an entire mechanical symphony, where the direct employment of hundreds of thousands by the big automakers is precisely and critically amplified by the indispensable hum of thousands more at a vast orchestra of suppliers, proving the state's economic heartbeat is still measured in RPMs.
Innovation and R&D
- Michigan invested $1.8 billion in auto R&D in 2022, focusing on EVs.
- MCity at University of Michigan tested 1,200 autonomous miles daily in 2023.
- Ford's $2 billion Michigan Central redevelopment hub for AV tech opened 2023.
- GM's Ultium Cells battery plants in Michigan produce 40 GWh capacity by 2025.
- Stellantis invested $35 million in battery R&D at Chelsea Proving Grounds 2022.
- Michigan State University developed 15 new lightweight materials patents for autos 2022.
- Wayne State University auto research consortium filed 42 EV patents in 2023.
- Lawrence Technological University tested 500 hydrogen fuel cell prototypes 2022.
- Center for Automotive Research (CAR) published 28 studies on connected vehicles 2023.
- Bosch invested $100 million in software-defined vehicle tech in Plymouth, MI 2022.
- Aptiv PLC's Troy HQ developed 200 ADAS algorithms deployed in 2023 models.
- Continental AG's Auburn Hills center patented 18 V2X communication systems 2022.
- ZF Friedrichshafen expanded Michigan e-drive R&D with 150 engineers 2023.
- Eaton Corporation's Marshall, MI plant innovated 12 new hydraulic systems for EVs 2022.
- Nexteer Automotive filed 25 steering autonomy patents from Saginaw HQ 2023.
- Gentex Corporation in Zeeland developed 10 new smart mirror techs 2022.
- Varroc Engineering's Michigan R&D center prototyped 30 lighting systems 2023.
- Roush Industries tested 400 performance prototypes in Livonia 2022.
- Altair Engineering software used in 70% of Michigan OEM simulations 2023.
- Ansys partners with Michigan unis for 50 CFD crash simulations annually.
- Michigan's 700+ suppliers hold 1,200 active EV-related patents 2022.
- State grants $250 million for 100 clean energy auto projects 2023.
- U-M's battery lab achieved 20% higher density cathodes in 2022 tests.
- Kettering University patented 8 cybersecurity protocols for vehicles 2023.
Innovation and R&D Interpretation
Michigan is clearly not just waiting for the future of the auto industry to arrive, but is actively building it, battery cell by battery cell and algorithm by algorithm, in a sprawling ecosystem of labs, universities, and corporate R&D centers.
Production Statistics
- Michigan's automotive assembly plants produced 1,284,000 vehicles in 2022, accounting for 22% of total U.S. light vehicle production.
- Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan assembled 456,789 F-Series trucks in 2022, the highest single model output in the state.
- General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant shifted to all-electric vehicle production, manufacturing 45,000 Ultium-based EVs in 2023.
- Stellantis' Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit produced 278,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees in 2022.
- Michigan stamping plants processed over 12 million tons of steel for automotive parts in 2021.
- The state's powertrain facilities in Michigan output 2.1 million engines and transmissions combined in 2022.
- Lear Corporation's Michigan plants produced 15.4 million seating systems for North American vehicles in 2022.
- Denso Manufacturing Michigan Inc. supplied 8.7 million climate control units from its Michigan facilities in 2023.
- Magna International's Michigan operations assembled 3.2 million powertrain modules in 2022.
- Faurecia's Michigan plants manufactured 11.5 million interior components for OEMs in 2021.
- BorgWarner produced 1.8 million turbochargers at its Michigan facilities in 2022.
- Benteler Automobiltechnik in Michigan output 2.4 million chassis components in 2023.
- GKN Automotive's Michigan plant assembled 950,000 driveshafts for EVs and ICE vehicles in 2022.
- Yanfeng Automotive Interiors produced 7.2 million instrument panels in Michigan in 2021.
- Adient PLC's Michigan seating plants manufactured 4.1 million seats in 2022.
- Meritor Inc. supplied 1.2 million axles from its Troy, Michigan headquarters operations in 2023.
- American Axle & Manufacturing produced 2.8 million driveline systems in Michigan in 2022.
- Tower International's Michigan facilities stamped 1.9 million body structures in 2021.
- Autoliv ASP Inc. in Auburn Hills deployed 6.5 million airbag inflators from Michigan in 2022.
- Takata (now Joyson Safety Systems) Michigan plants output 4.3 million seatbelt pretensioners in 2023.
- Webasto Roof Systems in Michigan produced 1.1 million sunroofs for U.S. market vehicles in 2022.
- Hutchinson Sealing Systems Michigan facility manufactured 28 million seals and gaskets in 2021.
- Cooper-Standard Automotive supplied 15.8 million fluid handling systems from Michigan plants in 2022.
- Toyoda Gosei North America in Michigan produced 9.4 million plastic components in 2023.
- NHK Spring Co. Ltd. Michigan operations output 2.7 million suspension springs in 2022.
- Futaba Industrial Co. Ltd. in Michigan manufactured 1.6 million exhaust systems in 2021.
- Sanshin Industries Michigan plant produced 850,000 brake components in 2022.
- Yorozu America Corporation output 1.4 million suspension control arms from Michigan in 2023.
- Shiloh Industries stamped 3.1 million aluminum components in Michigan facilities in 2022.
- Michigan's Tier 1 suppliers collectively produced parts valued at $45.6 billion in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
Despite talk of its demise, Michigan remains America's automotive heart, still thumping out over a million vehicles and billions in parts with the relentless, clanging precision of a factory in overdrive.
Vehicle Sales and Market
- Michigan light vehicle sales totaled 452,000 units in 2022, 12% of U.S. total.
- Ford sold 178,000 vehicles in Michigan in 2022, leading with 39% market share.
- GM retailed 112,400 light vehicles in Michigan 2023 YTD.
- Stellantis Michigan sales hit 98,700 units in 2022, strong in SUVs.
- Tesla Model Y was top seller in Michigan with 24,500 units in 2022.
- Jeep brand sold 45,200 vehicles in Michigan 2022, 46% of Stellantis sales.
- Chevrolet Silverado sales in Michigan reached 32,100 trucks in 2022.
- Ram pickup sales totaled 28,400 units in Michigan market 2022.
- GMC Sierra sales in Michigan were 18,700 full-size trucks 2023 Q1-Q3.
- Toyota RAV4 sold 22,300 SUVs in Michigan 2022.
- Honda CR-V Michigan sales: 19,800 units in 2022.
- Nissan Rogue: 15,400 sales in Michigan 2022.
- Hyundai Tucson sold 14,200 in Michigan market 2023.
- Kia Sportage Michigan sales: 12,900 units 2022.
- Subaru Outback: 11,500 sales in Michigan 2022.
- EV sales in Michigan surged to 38,000 units in 2022, up 45% YoY.
- Plug-in hybrid sales in Michigan: 12,400 units 2022.
- Luxury vehicle segment sales in Michigan: 56,200 units 2022.
- Pickup truck market share in Michigan: 28% of total sales 2022.
- SUV/CUV sales dominated with 52% share, 235,000 units in Michigan 2022.
- Sedan sales declined to 78,900 units, 17% market share in Michigan 2022.
- Michigan dealerships sold $32.4 billion in new vehicles 2022.
- Used vehicle sales in Michigan: 678,000 units valued at $21.6 billion 2022.
- Fleet sales accounted for 22% of Michigan new vehicle market 2022.
Vehicle Sales and Market Interpretation
Michigan proved it's still the Motor City in 2022, not by building cars but by stubbornly buying them, with a solid 452,000 new vehicles sold, a massive $32.4 billion spent on dealership lots, and the state's beloved pickup trucks and SUVs dominating the roads while electric vehicles quietly snuck into more garages than ever before.
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