Car Build in the US
This is the latest article discussing US automotive manufacturing I could find right now. If I could find my old charts I would use to plan components, I could offer more up-to-date information. However, the US automotive industry builds millions of cars each year and accounted for 2.8% of all nonfarm jobs in the US in 2024.
The March SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate) is forecasted at 15.9 million, slightly up from March 2024’s 15.7 million but down from February’s 16.0 million. First-quarter new-vehicle sales are expected to rise 0.6% year-over-year, reaching 3.79 million units. However, sales are 10% lower than Q4 2024’s 4.22 million units, reflecting a cooling of the market. Higher vehicle prices and lower incentives are likely contributing to the slowdown. 2024 was a strong year for the automotive industry, with roughly 16 million new-vehicles sold in the U.S., the highest total since pre-pandemic levels in 2020.
Affordability remains the most significant challenge for the automotive industry. “March new-vehicle sales forecast indicate slowing market trends,” CBT News.
How many cars are built in the US? | USAFacts
Of the vehicles produced in 2022, SUVs made up the biggest portion at 6.97 million (54% of the total for that year). Cars accounted for 3.41 million (27%). Pickup trucks were at 2.11 million (16%), followed by vans at around 374,000 (3%).
How many jobs does the auto industry create?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the auto industry employed an average of 4,486,300 people in 2024. Overall, the auto industry accounted for 2.8% of all nonfarm jobs in the US in 2024.
Auto industry job categories
Auto industry employment numbers include vehicle and parts manufacturing, wholesale trade (when retailers buy and sell cars at auctions to manage inventory), retail trade (car dealerships and accessory stores), and repair and maintenance services.
From February 2024 to February 2025, employment in all categories grew, except for jobs specifically in manufacturing motor vehicle parts and other motor vehicle retail trade dealers.
Auto industry employment saw gains in auto dealership and maintenance activities from February 2024 to February 2025
12-month change (net and percent) in employment, not seasonally adjusted, February 2024 – February 2025.
Which states have the most automotive manufacturing jobs?
Michigan employs the highest number of people in the auto industry annually in terms of both vehicle manufacturing (48,600 people) and parts manufacturing (118,300).
Michigan is followed by California (28,700 people) and Kentucky (24,000) in vehicle manufacturing employment numbers. For parts manufacturing, Ohio (65,700 people) and Indiana (54,200) employ the second- and third-highest numbers of people in the industry.
Michigan employs 56% more people than the next closest state, Indiana.
Total annual average auto industry employment by selected state, 2024.
Notes: The Department of Energy tracks the number and type of cars produced in the US per year, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (a division of the Department of Labor) tracks employment by industry and state. The Environmental Protection Agency also has data tools that explore vehicle trends and preliminary data for 2024.