According to a new study, international automakers build more cars in the U.S. than the Big Three Detroit automakers (GM, Ford, Stellantis). The study, released by Autos Drive America and the American International Automobile Dealers Association, highlights the decline in U.S. auto manufacturing by the Big Three over the last 25 years, as well as the rise in U.S. manufacturing by international automakers. Notably, domestic makes still produce more U.S.-built vehicles than international automakers when adding in domestic EV brands (Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla).
According to the study, international automakers produced 4.9 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, accounting for 48 percent of the total U.S. vehicle production. These vehicles were manufactured at 31 facilities, including vehicle, battery, and component plants across the country. International automakers employ 156,000 people directly, with two-thirds of those jobs in manufacturing roles. Over the past 25 years, international automakers have increased their total U.S. vehicle production by more than 85 percent.
By contrast, domestic vehicle production for American manufacturers totaled approximately 5.35 million vehicles in 2023. The Big Detroit Three produced an estimated 4.6 million vehicles, while all-electric EV producers Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla contributed 754,342 units. This indicates a significant reduction in the number of vehicles manufactured in the U.S. by the Big Three over the past quarter-century.
Looking at the numbers, the difference is stark. In 1998, the Big Three produced 9.2 million units in the U.S., as compared to just 4.6 million units in 2023, a decrease of roughly 50 percent. Meanwhile, the number of vehicles built in the U.S. by international automakers has risen dramatically, up from 2.4 million units in 1998 to 4.9 million units in 2023.
Despite the substantial decline in production by the Big Three, the total number of cars built in the U.S. has only decreased by 11 percent, thanks primarily to the increased manufacturing output from international manufacturers.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM business news, GM production news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Stellantis’s headquarters are in Hoofddorp, Netherlands.
How are they considered part of the Detroit Big Three?
Welcome to the world of globalization. American is no longer an economic power, it’s just another highly developed country like Western Europe.
Foreign automakers are largely not unionized in the U.S. where the Detroit automakers are.
How many are employed by domestic makers? This article makes it sound as if foreign and domestic are the same. The KOGOD Auto Index paints a different picture. Though, the domestics import a lot of foreign parts now, companies like Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyoda import most of the parts and components. And do the foreign companies have duplicate engineering, accounting, human resource, ect… jobs in the US.
I really don’t know what all the illegals in this country are going to do for employment. Our manufacturing has been mostly outsource and not everyone pays a service to cut their grass, eats fast food, or uses taxis regularly.
Be American, buy American.
So we should all be buying the highest US content vehicle sold in the US, the Tesla Model Y? 😉
The article was talking about finished units not highest content.
Cause I’m sure you have NOTHING around your house or on your back that isn’t foreign made? Check the label on your clothes, your shoes, your kitchen appliances, your power tools, your hand tools, your electronics? And I’m also sure that when you need a new roof on your house it’s done with American union labor and not the cheapest ILLEGAL immigrant you can find.
Thanks MS Barra for producing so many of your volume sellers in countries like Mexico, Korea, and China when you have spare capacity in the US. Better hope GM never needs govt. assistance again.
Thanks UAW for outrageous labor costs so GM and others move manufacturing south of the border.
None of this information should surprise anyone who has been paying attention to the industry. If you haven’t noticed GM, Ford and Stellantis have been building more models in other countries than ever before. Here is heart wrencher: vehicles built in Mexico, China, Korea etc; by the Detroit 3 are for main purpose of shipping back to the USA to sell. It was reported a couple of years ago that 75%-80% of Gm vehicles built in Mexico were then sold in the USA. Stellantis is also guilty they no longer build every Jeep sold in USA in the USA. Ford may build all F-150’s in the USA, but Pickups like the Maverick and Ford Bronco Sport built in Mexico and sold in the USA. Easy to see where vehicle is built check VIN number on window- starts with 1- USA Built 2- Canadian. 3 Mexico etc. Shame on all 3 with the major loss of jobs right here in the USA!
I will not buy any vehicle made outside the US or Canada as a matter of principle. Sorry, Ford could still build the Bronco Sport, Mach E, and Maverick and GM build the Envision, Blazer, and Silverado at a profit in the US even with union labor. Plus if you are going to pay people a fraction of what you pay them here, the customer should see the savings.
Terry D is absolutely correct. Mary quite contrary and other so called leaders of the Detroit companies are completely responsible. Don’t blame an autoworker for wanting a fair wage. That’s what made this country. Not woke idiots and greedy Mary types. Check out the profits GM has. Anybody not agreeing should go work for McDonald’s.
Fiduciary duty of publicly traded stocks. Blame the trade regulators, government diplomats/ politicians, and transparency of details/ analysis of foreign trade agreements. Been the problem since NA”FT”A and ‘hear no evil see no evil’ when it comes to ‘human rights’ offenses… or put another way – making sovereigns pay a tariff for not upholding the God given rights we believe “ALL MEN” are afforded, reinforced by domestic law. Effectively undermining the progression of rights of foreign men by American dollars paying for the creation of services/goods in a manner that would be illegal here domestically.
Remember, it’s all for the economy ‘stupid.’
And you have the same MSRP on a Silverado built in Mexico as one built in the US or Canada.
GM was so smart years ago moving so much production to Mexico. UAW is responsible for the offshoring of jobs. Costs are higher than they should be. Stellantis warned the new UAW deal would cause reduction in plants/workers. It is happening as they predicted.
ALL 18 OF MINE WERE MADE IN THE USA
Until Americans decide that they are not going to buy Vehicles made in other countries the automakers will continue to offshore assembly plants. The issue of UAW wages should never be an issue. I have had the opportunity to see Thousands of UAW members building product for the auto companies. These workers are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. The Assembly line doesn’t stop because workers are exhausted from building products at a rapid pace! I will never buy a vehicle not made in the USA! The people have the power to stop these companies from building in other countries and selling here, simply by checking where it is made and leaving them on the auto lot!
My new car was built in Hiroshima! How ironic is that?