The US motor vehicle manufacturing industry supports 950,000 workers and helped add $250 billion to US GDP in 2023. Wages averaged $32.50 per hour, rising 4.2% from 2022, while production reached 10.6 million light vehicles. Employment and performance vary by state—Michigan accounted for 180,000 auto manufacturing jobs (19% of the national total)—and the sector’s output, emissions, and resource use reflect ongoing shifts in industry practices.
Key Takeaways
- The US motor vehicle manufacturing industry employed 950,000 workers in 2023
- Average hourly wage in US motor vehicle manufacturing was $32.50 in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022
- Michigan had 180,000 auto manufacturing jobs in 2023, 19% of national total
- The industry contributed $250 billion to US GDP in 2023
- Total revenue for US motor vehicle manufacturers was $650 billion in 2023
- Profit margin averaged 6.2% for US automakers in 2023
- In 2023, the US motor vehicle manufacturing industry produced 10.6 million light vehicles, marking a 10% increase from 2022
- US automakers assembled 1.2 million passenger cars in Q4 2023, down 5% year-over-year due to supply chain issues
- Truck production in the US reached 2.8 million units in 2023, led by Ford and GM
- US light vehicle sales reached 15.5 million units in 2023
- Ford held 13.5% market share in US light vehicles in 2023
- GM's US sales: 2.6 million vehicles in 2023, 16.5% share
- US auto industry CO2 emissions from manufacturing: 120 million metric tons in 2023
- 45% of US auto plants achieved zero-waste to landfill in 2023
- Water usage in US auto manufacturing: 15 billion gallons annually 2023
In 2023, US motor vehicle manufacturing drove $250 billion in GDP while expanding production and wages.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Workforce25 stats
01
The US motor vehicle manufacturing industry employed 950,000 workers in 2023
02
Average hourly wage in US motor vehicle manufacturing was $32.50in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022
03
Michigan had 180,000 auto manufacturing jobs in 2023, 19% of national total
04
Union membership rate in US auto manufacturing was 45% in 2023
05
In 2023, 120,000 women were employed in US motor vehicle manufacturing, 12.6% of workforce
06
Turnover rate in US auto plants was 8.5% in 2023
07
250,000 jobs added in auto parts manufacturing since 2021
08
Average age of US auto manufacturing workers was 44.2 years in 2023
09
Ohio employed 95,000 in motor vehicle manufacturing in 2023
10
15% of US auto manufacturing jobs were in R&D and engineering in 2023
11
Labor productivity grew 3.1% in motor vehicle manufacturing in 2023
12
Kentucky had 68,000 auto jobs in 2023
13
Injury rate in US auto manufacturing was 2.8 per 100 workers in 2023
14
40,000 new hires in EV-related auto manufacturing jobs in 2023
15
Alabama's auto sector employed 50,000 in 2023
16
Training hours per worker averaged 120 in US auto plants 2023
17
Indiana had 72,000 motor vehicle manufacturing jobs in 2023
18
Diversity: 25% minority workers in US auto manufacturing 2023
19
Tennessee employed 85,000 in auto manufacturing 2023
20
Overtime hours averaged 5 per week in auto plants 2023
21
Georgia added 10,000 auto jobs in 2023
22
Apprenticeships in auto manufacturing: 15,000 active in 2023
23
Texas auto manufacturing employment: 45,000 in 2023
24
Part-time workers: 5% of US auto manufacturing workforce 2023
25
South Carolina: 38,000 auto jobs in 2023
Interpretation
Employment And Workforce Interpretation
In 2023, US motor vehicle manufacturing employed 950,000 workers with hourly wages of $32.50 and a 45% union membership rate, while turnover stood at 8.5% and women made up 12.6% of the workforce, showing a relatively stable but steadily diversifying employment picture in the sector.
02 · Category
Financial Performance20 stats
01
The industry contributed $250 billion to US GDP in 2023
02
Total revenue for US motor vehicle manufacturers was $650 billion in 2023
03
Profit margin averaged 6.2% for US automakers in 2023
04
R&D spending by US auto industry: $45 billion in 2023
05
Capital expenditures totaled $60 billion in 2023 for new plants
06
GM's US revenue from manufacturing: $170 billion in 2023
07
Ford's operating profit: $10.4 billion in 2023
08
Stellantis North America revenue: $95 billion in 2023
09
Industry debt levels: $120 billion outstanding in 2023
10
Taxes paid by auto manufacturers: $35 billion federal in 2023
11
Export value of US vehicles: $55 billion in 2023
12
Import costs for parts: $200 billion in 2023
13
ROI on EV plant investments: 8% average in 2023
14
Cost per vehicle produced: $28,500in 2023
15
Supply chain costs rose 12% to $150 billion in 2023
16
Warranty costs: $12 billion industry-wide in 2023
17
Cash reserves held by top 5 US automakers: $80 billion in 2023
18
Dividends paid: $5 billion by US auto firms in 2023
19
Energy costs: $8 billion for US auto plants in 2023
20
Insurance premiums: $3.5 billion industry total 2023
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
In 2023, the US motor vehicle manufacturing industry generated $650 billion in revenue and delivered a relatively thin average profit margin of 6.2%, even as it reinvested heavily with $45 billion in R&D and $60 billion in capital expenditures.
03 · Category
Production And Output29 stats
01
In 2023, the US motor vehicle manufacturing industry produced 10.6 million light vehicles, marking a 10% increase from 2022
02
US automakers assembled 1.2 million passenger cars in Q4 2023, down 5% year-over-year due to supply chain issues
03
Truck production in the US reached 2.8 million units in 2023, led by Ford and GM
04
In 2022, total US vehicle production was 9.2 million units, affected by semiconductor shortages
05
Michigan accounted for 25% of US vehicle production in 2023 with 2.65 million units
06
US engine production totaled 11.5 million units in 2023, including 4.2 million for light trucks
07
In 2023, electric vehicle production in the US hit 1.4 million units, up 40% from prior year
08
Parts manufacturing output for motor vehicles reached $450 billion in 2022
09
Q1 2024 saw US light truck production at 2.1 million units
10
In 2023, GM produced 2.1 million vehicles in the US, highest among OEMs
11
Ford's US production was 1.8 million units in 2023, including 600k F-Series trucks
12
Stellantis US output was 1.5 million vehicles in 2023
13
Toyota US production reached 1.7 million units in 2023
14
Honda produced 1.1 million vehicles in the US in 2023
15
In 2023, US motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing output was $120 billion
16
Capacity utilization in US motor vehicle manufacturing was 78% in 2023
17
US produced 250,000 heavy-duty trucks in 2023
18
In 2022, stamping and forging output for vehicles was 15 million tons
19
Q3 2023 US SUV production: 1.9 million units
20
US axle production totaled 12 million units in 2023
21
In 2023, battery production for EVs in US reached 150 GWh capacity
22
US transmission production: 9.8 million units in 2023
23
Casting production for vehicle parts: 8.5 million tons in 2022
24
In 2023, US motor vehicle manufacturing added 50,000 new production jobs
25
Plant utilization rate averaged 75% in Midwest US auto plants in 2023
26
US produced 1.2 million hybrid vehicles in 2023
27
Forging output for engines: 2.1 million tons in 2023
28
US chassis assembly: 10.5 million in 2023
29
In 2023, US light vehicle production per worker was 12.5 units
Interpretation
Production And Output Interpretation
In the Production and Output picture, US motor vehicle manufacturing jumped to 10.6 million light vehicles in 2023 up 10% from 2022 while overall production remained shaped by earlier semiconductor related constraints, even as Michigan alone produced 2.65 million units.
More related reading
05 · Category
Sustainability And Innovation19 stats
01
US auto industry CO2 emissions from manufacturing: 120 million metric tons in 2023
02
45% of US auto plants achieved zero-waste to landfill in 2023
03
Water usage in US auto manufacturing: 15 billion gallons annually 2023
04
Renewable energy use: 25% of total in auto plants 2023
05
EV battery recycling rate: 60% in US 2023
06
NOx emissions reduced 20% since 2020 in auto manufacturing
07
1,200 patents filed for autonomous driving tech by US firms in 2023
08
ADAS features in 85% of new US vehicles in 2023
09
Hydrogen fuel cell production: 5,000 units in US 2023
10
Plant electrification: 30% of US auto facilities by 2023
11
Lightweight materials usage up 15% to 40% vehicle weight 2023
12
Software-defined vehicles launched: 10 models by US OEMs 2023
13
Cybersecurity incidents in auto supply chain: 150 reported 2023
14
3D printing parts production: 500,000 units saved 20% costs 2023
15
Fuel efficiency average: 28.5 mpg for 2023 model year fleet
16
VOC emissions from painting: down 25% to 50k tons 2023
17
Robot density: 1,500 per 10k workers in US plants 2023
18
OTA updates deployed to 10 million US vehicles 2023
19
Sustainable sourcing: 70% recycled steel in vehicles 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability And Innovation Interpretation
In 2023, US auto manufacturing cut NOx emissions by 20% since 2020 while boosting innovation through 60% EV battery recycling and 45% of plants reaching zero-waste to landfill, showing measurable progress on sustainability beyond cutting CO2.
report visual · Key figures
Where jobs are concentrated in US auto manufacturing (2023)
Michigan and key auto-employment states account for a large share of manufacturing jobs.
950,000
The US motor vehicle manufacturing industry employed 950,000 workers in 2023
25%
Michigan accounted for 25% of US vehicle production in 2023 with 2.65 million units
72,000
Indiana had 72,000 motor vehicle manufacturing jobs in 2023
95,000
Ohio employed 95,000 in motor vehicle manufacturing in 2023
68,000
Kentucky had 68,000 auto jobs in 2023
85,000
Tennessee employed 85,000 in auto manufacturing 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
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Us Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-motor-vehicle-manufacturing-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Us Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-motor-vehicle-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Us Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-motor-vehicle-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
80 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level