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Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Evan Jozkowski Evan Jozkowski New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 33611

Revenue

$363.9bn

2024

$363.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

216k

Businesses

222

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry analysis

Automobile and light duty motor vehicle manufacturers have contended with many challenges through the current period. Significant technological improvements, particularly regarding hybrid and electric vehicles, internal combustion engine fuel efficiency, infotainment development and autonomous driving capabilities, have also spurred global demand from the growing global middle class. Even so, the pandemic led to a monumental slowdown, slashing vehicle demand. Similarly, rampant inflation and climbing interest rates made car buying more expensive, limiting potential growth despite pent-up demand for driving and travel following lockdown restrictions. Overall, revenue has faltered at an expected CAGR of 0.5% to $363.9 billion through the current period, including a 0.1% decline in 2024, where profit reached 6.1%. 

Trends and Insights

  • Manufacturers that successfully innovate will dominate the automotive landscape. Many companies are scrambling to create electric and autonomous vehicles to differentiate from competitors.
  • Automakers respond to changing consumer preferences, tweaking product lines each year. SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles have become especially popular in many markets.
  • Many companies have opened operations in the West. These companies often partner with technology companies to stimulate research and development, driving innovation.
  • The industry's dominant automakers maintain control. High per-unit and start-up costs, combined with established producers' scope and power, make it virtually impossible to join the industry.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $363.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Economic uncertainty has stunted growth

  • Automakers have faced severe economic volatility because of the pandemic and rampant inflation. The pandemic slashed consumer confidence, encouraging consumers to save excess income rather than spend on new vehicles and other big-ticket purchases. Similarly, lockdown restrictions reduced driving activity, decreasing the need for new cars.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Falling inflation will support consumer demand

  • Most consumers finance automobile purchases with short-term loans. High interest rates and rampant inflation at the end of the current period made auto loans daunting for most consumers.

Biggest companies in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
General Motors Company
97,184.1
6,944.7
7.1
Ford Motor Co
85,978.4
1,726.7
2.0
Stellantis N.V.
39,038.7
2,614.4
6.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 9 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cars, Crossovers and SUVs. Cars is the largest segment of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US.

Trends and Insights

CUVs and SUVs dominate domestic markets

  • SUVs often use a purpose-built chassis for rugged terrain, while CUVs share a chassis with smaller, lighter passenger vehicles to achieve better fuel efficiency. CUVs often have lower starting prices and greater fuel efficiency, resulting in surging popularity. These vehicles offer more space for occupants and luggage alongside raised ground clearance.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing complete automobile and light duty motor vehicles (i.e., body and chassis or unibody) or manufacturing chassis only. In other words, this industry covers all motor vehicle manufacturing except the manufacturing of medium to heavy trucks.

What's included in this industry?

CarsCrossoversSUVsPickup TrucksVans

Companies

General Motors CompanyFord Motor CoStellantis N.V.

Purchase this report to view all 9 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

HYBRIDTHE BIG THREEDOMESTIC INTERNATIONALSSPORT UTILITY VEHICLE (SUV)

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 33611 - Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Manufacturers that successfully innovate will dominate the automotive landscape. Many companies are scrambling to create electric and autonomous vehicles to differentiate fro...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Automakers respond to changing consumer preferences, tweaking product lines each year. SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles have become especially popular in many markets.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Many companies have opened operations in the West. These companies often partner with technology companies to stimulate research and development, driving innovation.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry's dominant automakers maintain control. High per-unit and start-up costs, combined with established producers' scope and power, make it virtually impossible to j...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Companies readily acquire successful brands and innovative technologies. Successful manufacturers have also partnered with tech companies and other manufacturers to produce c...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of General Motors Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Ford Motor Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Stellantis N.V.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 6 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for General Motors Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Ford Motor Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Stellantis N.V., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 6 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Car manufacturers must adhere to increasingly strict emissions and safety standards. Companies must follow strict emissions, fuel economy and roadway safety regulations to op...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchases dominate an automaker's expenses. Companies have battled supply chain shortages and volatile input prices following the pandemic, leading to long lead times and maj...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is $363.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in 2024?

There are 222 businesses in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing market in United States are General Motors Company, Ford Motor Co and Stellantis N.V.

What does the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US in United States include?

Cars and Crossovers are part of the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is General Motors Company.

How competitive is the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Automobile & Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Motorcycle, Bike & Parts Manufacturing in the US
  • Used Car Dealers in the US
  • Public Transportation in the US
  • Bicycle Manufacturing in the US

Complementors

  • Automobile Wholesaling in the US
  • New Car Dealers in the US
  • Online Car Dealers in the US

International industries

  • Global Car & Automobile Manufacturing
  • Car & Automobile Manufacturing in Canada
  • SUV & Light Truck Manufacturing in Canada
  • Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in Australia
  • Motor Vehicle Manufacturing in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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