Motor Vehicle Parts Suppliers have a tremendous impact on the US Economy. This booklet highlights that impact using a beautiful custom-built cover illustration made of 110 pictures of car parts to create the American flag. All graphics were custom created, including he charts and graphics. This was done while at The Catevo Group in 200 (Catevo closed in 2009). All images and design layouts belong to MEMA and/or Jeff Bowman of Bowman Creative: https://bowmancreative.com

1. Moving America. Part by Part. MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS SUPPLIERS
WWW.MEMA.ORG

3. Building the Foundation for Transportation. Part by Part.
Transportation is essential to our way of parts and accessories. Safe, efficient sector in the United States, directly
life in this country. We drive to work, transportation is essential to keeping employing nearly 686,000 individuals
take our children to school, and run our economy moving. across the country and contributing to
errands. We take buses across city streets more than 3.29 million jobs. Without
It is the parts in a vehicle that make it
the contributions of the nation’s parts
safe and economical to use. The next
suppliers, domestic vehicle manufacturing
time you sit in your car, think for a minute
and maintenance would almost certainly
about what is inside – the instrument
2/3rds panel, audio system, overhead consoles, grind to a halt, adversely affecting the
way we drive and go about our daily lives.
climate control system, seats and other
components. Think about what makes
your car safer and more fuel-efficient –
Parts suppliers
manufacture over airbags, seatbelts, headlights, brakes,
two-thirds of the
value in today’s and time zones. We buy groceries that catalytic converters, tires. You begin to
vehicles.
were delivered to our neighborhood store understand that the car is really the sum
by commercial trucks. We maintain our of its parts. In fact, more than two-thirds
vehicles with a broad range of services, of the value in today’s vehicles and the
majority of parts used
686,000
to service your vehicle
over its lifespan are
produced by parts
suppliers.
x 4.8
Direct workers in the United States
Parts suppliers are
the backbone of the
vehicle manufacturing
Additional indirect jobs contributed industry and the
country’s manufacturing
3.29 Million
Total number of jobs the industry impacts
base. The industry
constitutes the largest
manufacturing
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4. Building a 686,000 Person Industry. Part by Part.
Collectively, U.S. motor vehicle parts and sell finished components, such as suppliers. Each tier depends on the
suppliers are a $388-billion industry, transmissions, seats and instrument financial health of the other tiers for its
comprising three distinct segments: panels directly to the vehicle survival. Ultimately, all suppliers depend
original equipment, heavy duty manufacturer. Tier 2 suppliers sell parts on the financial health of the domestic
and aftermarket. like transmission gears, electronics, and foreign vehicle manufacturers at
the top of the supply chain pyramid.
$388-Billion Industry
Given this illustration, it is easy to see
the interdependency of the entire vehicle
manufacturing industry.
Collectively, the motor vehicle parts supplier industry is a $388-billion industry in the U.S.
HEAVY DUTY
LIGHT VEHICLE ORIGINAL speedometers and seat covers to the Passenger cars share the road with
VEHICLE MANUFACTURER EQUIPMENT (OE) Tier 1 suppliers. Tier 3 suppliers provide commercial vehicles like medium- and
raw materials to either of the other heavy-duty trucks, which are used
Original equipment suppliers
TIER design, engineer and to move the vast majority of goods
1 in the United States. Additionally, we
FINISHED COMPONENTS manufacture parts required
depend on school and transit buses
for the assembly of passenger
and emergency vehicles to operate in a
TIER cars and light trucks. OE suppliers
2 interact directly with vehicle safe and efficient manner. Heavy-duty
PARTS
suppliers provide the original equipment
manufacturers, and their success
parts used to manufacturer commercial
is tied directly to the number of
TIER vehicles and aftermarket replacement
3 domestically produced vehicles.
RAW MATERIALS parts needed to maintain the vehicles
Each year, more than 300 new
in service and on the road. Heavy-
The Original Equipment light vehicle models are sold in
sector is often divided duty suppliers are also responsible for
into levels or tiers. the U.S. – and each model contains
Given this illustration, developing most of the technologies that
it is easy to see the
8,000 to 12,000 parts or components.
interdependency of keep these vehicles safe.
the entire vehicle The OE sector is often divided into
manufacturing industry. Due to shipping costs and vehicle size
levels or tiers. Tier 1 suppliers provide
and weight, most heavy-duty vehicle
full design and engineering support
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5. AFTERMARKET SALES BY CHANNEL
generating freight ton- 27% Original Equipment (OE) service Aftermarket
Sales by Channel;
miles demand. Supplier Joint Motor Vehicle
16% General automotive repairs Aftermarket Channel
success is impacted Forecasting Model
12% Paint, body & interior repairs
by economic cycles,
changing manufacturer 10% Automotive parts & accessories
demands, production 6% Dealers
schedules, tight credit 4% Warehouse clubs & superstores
markets, and new diesel
3% Car washes
emission-reduction
3% Gasoline stations without convenience stores
requirements that have
3% Automotive oil & lube shops
caused both spikes and
steep drops in demand. 2% Gasoline stations with convenience stores
14% All other channels
AUTOMOTIVE
MODE TONS VALUE TONS VALUE
(MILLIONS) (BILLIONS) AFTERMARKET
ALL MODES, 19, 487 $13,052 100% 100%
TOTAL U.S. aftermarket suppliers support the perform their own
Truck 11,712 9,075 60% 70% light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle vehicle maintenance.
Rail 1,979 392 10% 3%
markets. The aftermarket segment includes Considering how many oil
Water 1,668 673 9% 5%
the manufacturing, remanufacturing, changes, brake jobs, batteries,
Air (including 6 563 0% 4%
truck and air)
distribution, retailing and installation of filters, hoses, belts and tires
Pipeline 3,529 896 18% 7%
all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, a vehicle requires in its lifetime,
Parcel, U.S. 27 1,022 0% 8%
Postal Service,
or courier equipment and accessories necessary to it is easy to see why the
Other multiple 567 430 3% 3% keep the vehicles on our roads operating $244-billion aftermarket
and unknown Value of Freight
modes Shipped by Mode
safely and efficiently. segment is steadily growing.
Trucks are responsible part manufacturing remains in the Most aftermarket repair work takes place
for 70% of the value
and 60% of the ton- United States. As with the light-vehicle in a vehicle manufacturer’s dealership
nage of commercial
freight in the United OE market, suppliers are generally service facility or an independent repair
States.
divided into three tiers. This industry shop. There is also a strong “do-it-
is dependent on a healthy economy yourself” market – individuals who

6. Supporting Jobs in Our Communities. Part by Part.
The motor vehicle parts supplier industry are located in other Great Lakes states, EXPENDITURE-
EMPLOYMENT INTERMEDIATE
INDUCED
is the U.S.’s largest manufacturing sector, 28 percent are in the South, and the
Manufacturing 145,100 235,200
employing 686,000 workers. In turn, remaining 11 percent are in other regions Metals, Minerals, Machinery 35,200 65,300
every direct job with a parts supplier (see chart below). Fabricated Metal Prod. Mfg. 44,700 43,600
contributes to an additional 4.8 jobs, Motor Vehicle Mfg. 14,500 7,100
Most of the supplier industry’s growth in
Plastics, Rubber Prod. Mfg. 16,200 15,100
meaning that the industry supports recent years has taken place in the South. Electrical or Computer Products 3,200 20,700
more than 3.29 million As foreign-owned vehicle manufacturers Other Manufacturing 31,300 83,400
jobs in total. established plants in states like Kentucky, Non-Manufacturing 753,000 1,466,600
Professional, Tech Services 141,200 86,300
Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and
Mgmt. of Companies, Enterprises 35,800 18,200
South Carolina, their suppliers followed.
Admin., Waste Services 145,500 34,900
Sixty-seven percent of the parts plants Wholesale Trade 83,000 60,400
located in the South opened between Retail Trade 75,900 220,000
1980 and 2006, now constituting a Transp., Warehousing 52,600 83,100
Finance, Insurance 54,000 72,000
significant part of the economy of
Other Services (excl. Govt) 142,600 618,600
Southern states. Other Non-Manufacturing 22,800 273,100
11% TOTAL 898,500 1,701,800
Other Of the 3.29 million
Regions Intermediate and
25% jobs supported Expenditure-Induced Employment
TOP STATES FOR DIREC T JOBS Supplier Michigan
50,000 -100,000+ by motor vehicle
25,000 -50,000 operations are 28%
suppliers, close to
10,000 -25,000 South
5,000 -10,000 often one of the one-third are related
1,000 -5,000 36%
largest employers in Great Lakes to manufacturing.
0 -1,000
States
Importance of Parts Suppliers small communities, In addition, the
to Local Manufacturing.
Counting only direct
making parts suppliers complexity of the motor
employment, parts suppliers
the foundation of hundreds vehicle itself requires a large
are the largest manufacturing
sector in eight states: Indiana, of communities across the country.
Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, range of raw materials – including steel,
Ohio, Oklahoma, South
Carolina and Tennessee. Suppliers support a vast network of plastics, non-ferrous metals and rubber.
operations that stretches from coast Over 290,000 people in these and other
to coast. While 25 percent of supplier industries depend upon a competitive
facilities are in Michigan, 36 percent U.S. motor vehicle supplier industry.
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7. Sustaining Our Environment. Part by Part
Suppliers have consistently demonstrated • Clean Diesel Engines. Clean diesel can safety, durability or comfort. For every
a commitment to advancing technologies provide 30 to 35 percent better fuel 10 percent eliminated from a vehicle’s
and practices that will secure a economy and generally emits 25 percent total weight, fuel economy improves
sustainable environment through product less greenhouse gas than gasoline. by seven percent.
innovation and more environmentally Additionally, diesel engines offer more
friendly manufacturing operations. power and greater acceleration than
gasoline engines.
VEHICLE AND ENGINE TECHNOLOGIES • Direct Fuel Injection Systems. Direct fuel
The industry has worked injection systems work by first reducing
with its customers and fuel to a fine spray, then injecting
developed a wide range it directly into an engine’s cylinders
of new technologies without first mixing with incoming air.
that promote fuel Greater fuel economy is achieved as the
efficiency. Most of these technology allows fuel to burn more
technologies, with a few efficiently.
exceptions, are available • Fuel Cell Technology. Fuel cell vehicles
for both passenger vehicles create their own electricity and are
and heavy-duty vehicles, including: propelled by an electric motor, resulting
• Batteries and Engines for Hybrid in low or no emissions. Though not
Vehicles. Hybrid vehicles convert the likely to be widely available in the
energy normally wasted during coasting near term, fuel cells represent an
and braking into electricity. This energy enormous opportunity and an important
is stored in a battery until needed by technological advance.
the electric motor. Some hybrids also • Lightweight Materials. By using
automatically shut off the engine when lightweight materials such as aluminum,
the vehicle comes to a stop and restart plastic and other composite materials,
it when the accelerator is pressed, manufacturers can build more fuel-
preventing wasted energy from idling. efficient vehicles without sacrificing

8. • Innovative Glass. Advances in glass while fixing a serious maintenance vehicles and construction materials.
technology allow for cooler vehicle problem can improve your mileage by Additionally, suppliers who
interiors, which reduce the demand as much as 40 percent. These repairs remanufacture vehicle parts and
for air conditioning, resulting in can take a variety of forms. components have cut down on
increased fuel economy and reduced • Replacing clogged air filters protects energy use, waste disposal and
greenhouse gas emissions. the engine and can improve mileage capital and labor inputs. Through
• Anti-Idling in older vehicles by as much as remanufacturing, products that
Technology. 14 percent. are worn, imperfect or discarded
Aimed specifically are brought to a manufacturing
• Performing regular engine tune-ups
at commercial environment where they are cleaned
and vehicle maintenance checks
vehicles, anti- and checked. Reusable product
improves efficiency because worn
idling technology parts are brought up to factory or
spark plugs, dragging brakes, low
reduces the need performance specifications; parts
transmission fluid and transmission
for drivers to idle that cannot be reused are replaced.
problems can all hinder fuel
their engines Remanufacturing preserves the
economy.
on long-haul value of the original manufacturing
• Keeping tires properly inflated and
trips. Anti-idling – including energy costs and waste
aligned can improve mileage by more
technology can reduce idling fuel
than three percent.
consumption by 60 percent and
greatly reduce idling emissions.
RECYCLING VEHICLE PARTS
AND MATERIALS
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Recycling is critical for suppliers. The
One simple key to conserving fuel lead and plastic casings in vehicle
and reducing emissions is regular batteries are recycled to make new
vehicle maintenance. According to the batteries. Used oil filters are recyclable
U.S. Department of Energy, vehicle because they are made of steel and
maintenance and repair can improve can be reprocessed into new steel
mileage by an average of 4 percent, products, such as cans, appliances,
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9. ACCOUNTING FOR THE a supplier company in upstate New York
CARBON FOOTPRINT recycles approximately 100,000 gallons
Many suppliers adhere to strict product of rainwater annually. The rainwater is
stewardship guidelines. Stewardship collected from its 10,000-square-foot
involves thinking about a product’s roof and stored in cooling towers used to
lifecycle – from the raw materials that go transfer heat generated from the plant’s
into a product to how a product, at the air compressors.
end of its service life, can be reused or
disposal – which recycling alone cannot recycled. Companies are also increasing
do. Remanufacturing also provides a the use of renewable raw materials,
number of benefits to the economic and such as natural rubber and plant-based
environmental well-being of this country, oils and biofuels. Other innovations
including domestic job creation and include conserving basic resources at
extending the useful life of consumer manufacturing facilities. For example,
products at a good value.

10. Supplying Safety Innovation. Part by Part.
Motor vehicle parts suppliers are responsible stability control (ESC), mandated by NHTSA for accidents, or running off the road or out of the
for more than two-thirds of the value of a new all passenger cars and light trucks beginning lane as the critical event that caused more than
vehicle. In 2006, suppliers were responsible with the 2009 model year. ESC is a system 60 percent of these accidents. Brake problems
for nearly 30 percent of the total $16.6-billion that uses sophisticated sensors to detect and were a factor in 30 percent of these crashes.
automotive research and development prevent skids or loss of control by automatically Continually challenged to provide innovation
investment and are providing much of the adjusting individual brakes to safely reposition that will reduce accidents, suppliers play a key
intellectual capital required for the design, testing the vehicle on its intended course. Suppliers role in developing technology to address these
and engineering of new parts and systems. are also responsible for safety advancements “critical event” concerns. New technologies
like adaptive cruise control, advanced all- include brake stroke monitoring, collision
wheel drive systems, blind zone management
ADVANCED SAFETY warning, lane departure warning, and stability
systems, collision detection systems, mirror
TECHNOLOGIES control. The industry is working with Congress to
displays and side alert detectors. All these develop a tax incentive for the purchase of these
Suppliers play a critical
systems are designed to respond to consumer technologies to spur their use.
role in the advancement
demand and make vehicles safer.
of vehicle technologies
and will continue to drive PROTECTING INNOVATION
initiatives that reduce HEAVY TRUCK SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES
Additionally, it is very important for suppliers
critical safety problems Suppliers are also developing the technology to protect their innovation. According to
on America’s roads. Two that keeps heavy-duty trucks and other private-sector estimates, parts suppliers lose
of the most well-known commercial vehicles safe – a tremendously an estimated $12 billion worldwide and $3
safety innovations are important task given the volume of trucks on billion domestically in sales annually to product
seatbelts and airbags, the roads. According to the U.S. Department counterfeiting. Counterfeit parts also present
which combine to save countless lives every of Transportation, there were more than a potential safety concern. The supplier
day. Suppliers work very closely with the 4,800 fatalities and nearly industry is working with
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 84,000 injuries resulting from Congress and Administration
(NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety accidents involving heavy- officials to promote legislation
Administration (FMCSA), the government duty vehicles in 2007. FMCSA that would improve anti-
agencies that regulate vehicle safety. and NHTSA have identified counterfeiting efforts.
One of the newest safety advances is electronic rear-end collisions, sideswipe
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11. Trillions of Miles Driven, and Still Moving.
Americans drive an astonishing three trillion vehicle miles per year. There is little that we
can accomplish without driving. From our daily commute to our weekend getaways, from
safely moving commerce to safely driving our children to school; we depend on reliable,
safe and efficient transportation.
Motor vehicle suppliers design, engineer and manufacture the quality parts that fulfill our need
for efficient transportation, and they are helping improve new vehicle safety, fuel efficiency and
emission reductions. Suppliers also provide quality jobs that support our communities. With a
constant focus on the future and what will best meet public need, automotive and heavy-duty
suppliers continue to keep the country moving, part by part.

12. WWW.MEMA.ORG
AASA, HDMA, MEMA OFFICES MEMA WASHINGTON OFFICE OESA OFFICE
10 Laboratory Drive, PO Box 13966 1225 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 300 1301 W Long Lake Road, Suite 225
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Washington, DC 20005 Troy, Michigan 48098
“Moving America. Part by Part.” Based on research undertaken by the Center for Automotive Research on behalf of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA);
Who Really Made Your Car?, Thomas Klier and James Rubenstein, Upjohn Institute; and information compiled by MEMA, April 2009.