The U.S. automotive sector supported 4.2 million jobs in 2022 across manufacturers, suppliers, and dealerships. Automotive manufacturing employed 950,000 workers in 2022, and the average hourly wage in motor vehicle manufacturing reached $29.47 in 2023. As EV sales climbed to 6.2% of total in 2022, employment and pay are being reshaped by electrification and charging buildouts.
Key Takeaways
- Automotive manufacturing employed 950,000 workers in 2022.
- Total automotive industry jobs, including suppliers, reached 4.2 million in 2022.
- Michigan had 295,000 auto-related jobs in 2022.
- U.S. EV sales share reached 6.2% of total in 2022.
- Average fuel economy of new vehicles: 26.4 mpg in 2022.
- CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles: 4.6 billion metric tons globally, U.S. 1.2B in 2022.
- Automotive contributed $580 billion to U.S. GDP in 2022.
- Auto exports from U.S. totaled $60.4 billion in 2022.
- U.S. auto imports were $241 billion in 2022.
- In 2022, U.S. light vehicle production reached 10.06 million units, a 3.4% increase from 2021.
- U.S. automakers produced 1.77 million vehicles in Q1 2023, down 5.5% from Q1 2022.
- Ford Motor Company's U.S. production was 1.82 million units in 2022.
- U.S. light vehicle sales reached 13.9 million units in 2022.
- Ford F-Series sold 650,528 units in the U.S. in 2022.
- Chevrolet Silverado sales were 513,367 units in 2022.
In 2022 and 2023, U.S. auto jobs rebounded to millions, with higher wages, EV momentum, and stable unemployment.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Labor30 stats
01
Automotive manufacturing employed 950,000 workers in 2022.
02
Total automotive industry jobs, including suppliers, reached 4.2 million in 2022.
03
Michigan had 295,000 auto-related jobs in 2022.
04
Average hourly wage in motor vehicle manufacturing was $29.47in 2023.
05
UAW represented 431,000 workers in U.S. auto industry in 2023.
06
Women comprised 25% of automotive manufacturing workforce in 2022.
07
Supplier jobs totaled 3.25 million in 2022.
08
Dealership employment was 1.2 million in 2022.
09
Unemployment rate in auto manufacturing was 3.8% in 2023.
10
Entry-level production jobs averaged $50,000annual salary in 2023.
11
150,000 new auto jobs added since 2021 bottom.
12
Skilled trades like welders: 120,000 employed in auto sector 2022.
13
Turnover rate in auto manufacturing was 4.2% in 2022.
14
Apprenticeships in auto manufacturing: 25,000 active in 2023.
15
R&D engineers in auto: 180,000 employed in 2022.
16
Logistics and warehousing jobs: 450,000 in auto supply chain 2022.
17
Motor vehicles and parts employment: 992,000 in Feb 2023.
18
Auto mechanics employed: 725,000 in 2022.
19
Alabama auto jobs: 40,000 in 2022.
20
Wage growth in auto sector: 6.5% YoY in 2022.
21
Diversity: 30% minorities in production roles 2022.
22
Tier 2 supplier jobs: 900,000 in 2022.
23
Service technicians jobs growth: 2% projected to 2032.
24
Union membership in auto: 14.5% of workforce 2022.
25
Training programs graduates: 50,000 annually from community colleges.
26
Remote work in auto admin: 20% of roles 2023.
27
EV technician certifications: 10,000 issued 2022.
28
Injury rate in manufacturing: 2.7 per 100 workers 2022.
29
Kentucky auto employment: 95,000 in 2022.
30
Software engineers in auto: 50,000 added 2021-2022.
Interpretation
Employment and Labor Interpretation
The automotive industry is a massive, interconnected engine of 4.2 million jobs—from factory floors where union workers earn solid wages to sprawling supply chains and dealerships—that is simultaneously revving up with new electric and software jobs while still wrestling with its legacy of low diversity and high injury rates.
02 · Category
Environmental and Technological Advancements26 stats
01
U.S. EV sales share reached 6.2% of total in 2022.
02
Average fuel economy of new vehicles: 26.4 mpg in 2022.
03
CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles: 4.6 billion metric tons globally, U.S. 1.2B in 2022.
04
U.S. had 3.1 million EVs on road by end 2022.
05
Public EV chargers: 43,800 Level 2 and DC fast in 2022.
06
Autonomous vehicle testing miles: 50 million by major firms in 2022.
07
ADAS-equipped new vehicles: 85% in 2022.
08
U.S. invests $7.5B in EV charging infrastructure via BIL.
09
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles: 17,000 on U.S. roads 2023.
10
Fleet average GHG emissions down 30% since 2010.
11
Software-defined vehicles projected 50% by 2025, 20% in 2022.
12
V2G technology pilots in 10 states covering 5,000 vehicles 2023.
13
Recycled materials in new vehicles: 25% average in 2022.
14
NOx emissions reduced 99% since 1970 standards.
15
5G-connected vehicles: 15 million in U.S. fleet 2022.
16
BEV market share: 5.8% in 2022 U.S. sales.
17
New vehicle fleet CO2: 358 g/mi average 2022.
18
U.S. vehicle miles traveled: 3.2 trillion in 2022.
19
Supercharger stations: 2,000 in U.S. end 2022.
20
Level 3 autonomy miles logged: 20 million by Waymo 2022.
21
Lane-keeping assist adoption: 78% new cars 2022.
22
NEVI funding allocated: $5B for 50,000 chargers.
23
Biofuel blend use in flex-fuel: 10% ethanol avg.
24
Cybertruck prototypes: software updates OTA 100%.
25
Tire efficiency standards saved 1B gallons fuel since 2007.
26
LiDAR-equipped vehicles: 5% new sales 2022.
Interpretation
Environmental and Technological Advancements Interpretation
The electric shift is accelerating on paper, but with only one charger for every seventy electric cars and tailpipe emissions still measured in billions of tons, the road to a truly clean, autonomous future feels paved with both exciting stats and stubborn realities.
03 · Category
Financial and Economic Impact30 stats
01
Automotive contributed $580 billion to U.S. GDP in 2022.
02
Auto exports from U.S. totaled $60.4 billion in 2022.
03
U.S. auto imports were $241 billion in 2022.
04
Motor vehicle trade deficit was $183 billion in 2022.
05
Ford revenue from U.S. operations: $78.8 billion in 2022.
06
GM revenue: $156.7 billion globally, with U.S. 60% share in 2022.
07
Stellantis North America revenue: $92 billion in 2022.
08
Auto parts exports: $47.2 billion in 2022.
09
R&D spending by U.S. automakers: $30 billion in 2022.
10
Dealer profits reached $1,800per new vehicle in 2022.
11
Auto loan debt totaled $1.5 trillion in 2023.
12
Average new vehicle incentive spending: $5,872in 2022.
13
Taxes from auto industry: $100 billion annually.
14
Investment in U.S. plants: $55 billion since 2021.
15
EV battery investments: $70 billion announced by 2023.
16
Auto industry GDP contribution: 3% of U.S. total in 2022.
17
GM U.S. profit: $10.4 billion in 2022.
18
Ford EBIT: $9.2 billion automotive in 2022.
19
Aftermarket parts market: $400 billion in 2022.
20
Vehicle financing revenue: $50 billion for banks 2022.
21
R&D tax credits claimed: $5 billion by auto firms 2022.
22
Insurance premiums from autos: $300 billion annually.
23
Supply chain costs rose 15% for OEMs in 2022.
24
Chip shortage cost industry $210 billion in 2021-2022.
25
Dealer inventory value: $150 billion end 2022.
26
EV incentives federal: $7,500per vehicle IRA 2023.
27
State auto sales taxes: $45 billion collected 2022.
28
Capital expenditures by OEMs: $40 billion in U.S. 2022.
29
Auto retail sales revenue: $1.1 trillion 2022.
30
EV stock market cap: $500 billion for U.S. firms 2023.
Interpretation
Financial and Economic Impact Interpretation
The American auto industry is a $1.5-trillion-deep economic engine that, for all its domestic power and R&D brilliance, still can't drive past the fact we import twice as many cars as we export, a gap wide enough to park every EV start-up inside.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production and Manufacturing30 stats
01
In 2022, U.S. light vehicle production reached 10.06 million units, a 3.4% increase from 2021.
02
U.S. automakers produced 1.77 million vehicles in Q1 2023, down 5.5% from Q1 2022.
03
Ford Motor Company's U.S. production was 1.82 million units in 2022.
04
General Motors produced 2.21 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2022.
05
Stellantis U.S. production totaled 1.49 million units in 2022.
06
U.S. engine production was 11.2 million units in 2022.
07
Michigan accounted for 20.6% of U.S. automotive production in 2022.
08
U.S. light truck production hit 6.49 million units in 2022.
09
Passenger car production in the U.S. was 2.77 million units in 2022.
10
U.S. stamping and forging plants produced parts worth $45.6 billion in 2022.
11
Foundry production for automotive castings reached 4.2 million tons in 2022.
12
U.S. motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing output index was 98.5 in 2023.
13
Parts manufacturing employment supported 4.1 million jobs indirectly in 2022.
14
U.S. vehicle assembly plants numbered 54 in operation as of 2023.
15
Aluminum die-casting for autos produced 1.8 million tons in 2022.
16
U.S. plastic parts production for vehicles was $28.7 billion in 2022.
17
Glass production for automotive use totaled 450 million square feet in 2022.
18
U.S. tire production for passenger cars was 278 million units in 2022.
19
Battery production capacity for EVs reached 100 GWh in U.S. by 2023.
20
Steel used in U.S. auto production was 80 million tons in 2022.
21
U.S. light vehicle production reached 10.06 million units in 2022, up 3.4% YoY.
22
GM U.S. production: 2.21 million vehicles in 2022.
23
Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant produced 400,000 F-150s in 2022.
24
Toyota's Georgetown plant output: 550,000 vehicles in 2022.
25
Honda's Ohio plants produced 1.2 million vehicles combined in 2022.
26
U.S. powertrain production: 9.8 million units in 2022.
27
Ohio's auto production share: 12% of national total in 2022.
28
Heavy-duty truck production: 285,000 units in 2022.
29
EV production in U.S.: 510,000 units in 2022.
30
Supplier Tier 1 sales to OEMs: $250 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
While the traditional engine of the American auto industry still roars at a formidable 10 million units and 4 million jobs, the surge in EV investment and shifting production figures reveal an industry meticulously retooling its very soul for an electric future.
Reference
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). U.S. Automotive Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-automotive-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "U.S. Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/u-s-automotive-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "U.S. Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/u-s-automotive-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
92 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level