U.S. aftermarket labor costs rose 9.3% in 2023, yet vehicle leasing and rental still pulled in $34.0 billion in revenue. At the same time, automotive telematics insurance expanded to an $8.1 billion market, while manufacturing work faced a 3.6% job vacancy rate. Put together, these shifts across parts, services, insurance, and labor make it harder to assume the industry is moving in one direction.
Key Takeaways
- 9.3% U.S. aftermarket labor cost inflation in 2023 vs 2022 (labor cost growth).
- $2.2 billion U.S. revenue for automotive re-manufactured parts in 2023 (remanufactured parts market).
- 5.0% U.S. aftermarket service penetration among vehicles with 3+ years in 2023 (penetration rate).
- $4.3 billion total state and federal workforce development spending supporting automotive/advanced manufacturing training in 2022 (spending).
- 1.9% of the U.S. workforce worked in transportation equipment manufacturing in 2023 (share of employment).
- 2.8 million U.S. workers were employed in motor vehicle parts manufacturing in 2023 (employment).
- 13.6 million light vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2023 (U.S. light-vehicle sales volume).
- 6.4% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. were plug-in electric vehicles in 2023 (U.S. plug-in EV share of new car sales).
- 8.6 million battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid-electric vehicles were sold globally in 2023 by Tesla, BYD, and other OEMs combined as a share of global sales (EV sales share of global passenger-car sales in 2023).
- EPA estimated total transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions were 1.7 billion metric tons CO2e in 2022 (transportation sector emissions).
- In 2023, U.S. natural gas and gasoline together accounted for about 93% of total transportation energy use by sector (share of transportation energy use).
- U.S. vehicle miles traveled (VMT) were 3.3 trillion miles in 2023 (total driving activity).
- U.S. manufacturers reported $74.0 billion in vehicle and parts exports in 2023 (export value).
- U.S. motor vehicle assembly plants operated at about 77% of capacity in 2023 (industry capacity utilization).
- The U.S. motor vehicle parts and accessories stores industry revenue in 2023 was $202.3 billion (U.S. retail revenue for auto parts stores).
In 2023, rising costs and steady demand shaped US automotive services, parts markets, and workforce needs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Aftermarket & Services6 stats
01
9.3% U.S. aftermarket labor cost inflation in 2023 vs 2022 (labor cost growth).
02
$2.2 billion U.S. revenue for automotive re-manufactured parts in 2023 (remanufactured parts market).
03
5.0% U.S. aftermarket service penetration among vehicles with 3+ years in 2023 (penetration rate).
04
$8.1 billion U.S. market size for automotive telematics insurance in 2023 (telematics insurance).
05
$34.0 billion U.S. revenue for vehicle leasing and rental in 2023 (industry revenue).
06
$1.2 billion U.S. revenue for automotive salvage yards in 2023 (salvage industry revenue).
Interpretation
Aftermarket & Services Interpretation
In the U.S. aftermarket and services space, growth and spending appear to be steady and measurable, with 5.0% of 3 plus year vehicles using aftermarket services in 2023 and rising costs shown by 9.3% labor cost inflation, while adjacent revenue pools such as $2.2 billion in remanufactured parts and $8.1 billion in telematics insurance reinforce the broad demand for service and support beyond vehicle sales.
02 · Category
Labor & Employment20 stats
01
$4.3 billion total state and federal workforce development spending supporting automotive/advanced manufacturing training in 2022 (spending).
02
1.9% of the U.S. workforce worked in transportation equipment manufacturing in 2023 (share of employment).
03
2.8 million U.S. workers were employed in motor vehicle parts manufacturing in 2023 (employment).
04
$75.31/hour was the average hourly earnings for production workers in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing in April 2024 (wages).
05
3.6% of automotive manufacturing jobs in the U.S. were vacant in 2023 (vacancy rate).
06
4.1% unemployment rate among production workers in manufacturing in 2023 (unemployment rate).
07
17% of U.S. automotive employees were in production and related roles in 2023 (occupation share).
08
2.4% of manufacturing employment was temporary help in 2023 (share of employment).
09
1.6 million U.S. workers were employed in auto dealerships in 2023 (employment).
10
$39.2 billion total wages for the U.S. motor vehicle and parts manufacturing industry in 2023 (wages).
11
Median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $48,050/year in 2023 (median wages).
12
Median pay for auto body and related repairers was $47,920/year in 2023 (median wages).
13
Employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics was projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032 (growth rate).
14
Employment of automotive body and related repairers was projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032 (growth rate).
15
2.3 million students enrolled in U.S. automotive vocational training programs in 2022 (enrollment).
16
2.1% U.S. manufacturing productivity growth in 2023 (rate).
17
3.5% U.S. labor cost increase for vehicle assembly in 2023 (unit labor cost change).
18
$6.4 billion U.S. spending on automotive-focused R&D in 2023 (R&D spending).
19
$14.2 billion in total R&D performed by motor vehicle manufacturing in 2022 (R&D performed).
20
34% of U.S. automaker workforce were in manufacturing roles in 2023 (workforce mix).
Interpretation
Labor & Employment Interpretation
In the Labor and Employment category, hiring and workforce stability look like a challenge since 3.6% of U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs were vacant in 2023 while production workers earned $75.31 an hour in April 2024.
03 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
13.6 million light vehicles were sold in the U.S. in 2023 (U.S. light-vehicle sales volume).
02
6.4% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. were plug-in electric vehicles in 2023 (U.S. plug-in EV share of new car sales).
03
8.6 million battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid-electric vehicles were sold globally in 2023 by Tesla, BYD, and other OEMs combined as a share of global sales (EV sales share of global passenger-car sales in 2023).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In 2023, the U.S. sold 13.6 million light vehicles, and plug-in electric vehicles made up 6.4% of new sales, showing a sizable but still early-stage EV market within the broader automotive market size picture.
04 · Category
Emissions & Climate3 stats
01
EPA estimated total transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions were 1.7 billion metric tons CO2e in 2022 (transportation sector emissions).
02
In 2023, U.S. natural gas and gasoline together accounted for about 93% of total transportation energy use by sector (share of transportation energy use).
03
U.S. vehicle miles traveled (VMT) were 3.3 trillion miles in 2023 (total driving activity).
Interpretation
Emissions & Climate Interpretation
With U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions reaching 1.7 billion metric tons CO2e in 2022 and 2023 driving totaling 3.3 trillion miles, the emissions and climate picture is closely tied to the heavy reliance on gasoline and natural gas, which together make up about 93% of transportation energy use.
More related reading
05 · Category
Trade & Production2 stats
01
U.S. manufacturers reported $74.0 billion in vehicle and parts exports in 2023 (export value).
02
U.S. motor vehicle assembly plants operated at about 77% of capacity in 2023 (industry capacity utilization).
Interpretation
Trade & Production Interpretation
In 2023, U.S. auto trade and production showed a strong link between output and overseas demand, with $74.0 billion in vehicle and parts exports alongside motor vehicle assembly plants running at about 77% capacity.
06 · Category
Supply Chain1 stats
01
The U.S. motor vehicle parts and accessories stores industry revenue in 2023 was $202.3 billion (U.S. retail revenue for auto parts stores).
Interpretation
Supply Chain Interpretation
In the U.S. auto supply chain, the 2023 revenue of $202.3 billion at motor vehicle parts and accessories stores signals a strong and still sizable flow of replacement components feeding downstream vehicle operations and maintenance.
07 · Category
Performance Metrics1 stats
01
The SAE estimated that autonomous driving systems are expected to reach Level 3 capability on millions of vehicles globally by 2027 (forecast capability penetration).
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
SAE projects that autonomous driving systems will achieve Level 3 capability on millions of vehicles worldwide by 2027, signaling rapid performance progress in the automotive industry’s performance metrics.
08 · Category
Regulation & Safety1 stats
01
ISO 26262 functional safety is adopted in safety-related automotive electronics design processes worldwide; 8,000+ organizations were certified globally by 2023 (functional safety certification scale).
Interpretation
Regulation & Safety Interpretation
Across Regulation & Safety, ISO 26262 functional safety has become the global standard for automotive electronics, with 8,000 plus organizations certified by 2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Us Automotive Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-automotive-industry-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Us Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-automotive-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Us Automotive Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-automotive-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)