Automobile Manufacturing Shipments and Employment Up, According to Census Bureau's Economic Census

WASHINGTON -- Aug. 21, 2014: The total value of shipments for the automobile manufacturing industry (NAICS 336111) was $108.8 billion in 2012, up 28.4 percent from $84.7 billion in 2007, according to the latest 2012 Economic Census statistics released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The number of employees increased 5.6 percent, from 65,436 in 2007 to 69,078 in 2012.

While shipments and employment increased, the number of establishments decreased from 188 in 2007 to 180 in 2012. The average payroll per employee decreased 6.5 percent, from $78,092 in 2007 to $73,053 in 2012.

Total value of shipments for the light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing industry (NAICS 336112) decreased 20.7 percent, from $154.0 billion in 2007 to $122.2 billion in 2012. For this industry, other highlights include:

The number of establishments decreased from 90 in 2007 to 77 in 2012. The number of employees decreased 31.3 percent, from 84,806 in 2007 to 58,241 in 2012. The average payroll per employee decreased 3.8 percent, from $81,262 in 2007 to $78,194 in 2012. The total value of shipments for the heavy duty truck manufacturing industry (NAICS 336120) increased 51.9 percent, from $19.4 billion in 2007 to $29.5 billion in 2012. For this industry, other highlights include:

The number of establishments decreased from 101 in 2007 to 82 in 2012. The number of employees increased 3.7 percent, from 29,120 in 2007 to 30,190 in 2012. The average payroll per employee increased 15.3 percent, from $46,498 in 2007 to $53,630 in 2012. Of the total value of product shipments for this industry, trucks weighing between 14,001 pounds and 33,000 pounds made up 13.0 percent; trucks weighing 33,001 pounds or more made up 67.5 percent; and buses, including military and firefighting vehicles, made up 18.2 percent. The statistics published in this report represent motor vehicles that were manufactured by establishments in the U.S. and were shipped domestically or exported. Information on motor vehicle exports are available from the Census Bureau's foreign trade data. The statistics released today represent only the manufacturing of vehicles, not sales. Later this month, 2012 Economic Census statistics on the nation's motor vehicle dealers will be released.

For a definition of the automobile manufacturing industry, see the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) page at (336111). The page also has similar definitions for light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing (336112) and heavy duty truck manufacturing (336120).

These statistics are part of the 2012 Economic Census Industry Series, which publishes national figures for detailed industries, as well as information on the product lines sold by or services provided by businesses. These data are collected on establishments, which are typically single physical locations of a business that produce or distribute goods or perform services and can be accessed via American FactFinder.

Future 2012 Economic Census Industry Series releases will include first time information on the emerging industries of solar, wind, geothermal and biomass electric power generation. This series will be released through February 2015; for more information on these future releases, see Census.

About the Economic Census

The U.S. Census Bureau conducts an economic census every five years and provides a comprehensive and detailed profile of the U.S. economy, covering millions of businesses representing more than 1,000 industries and providing unique portraits of American industries and local communities.

Economic census statistics will be released over a two-year period, through June 2016. Statistics at the local level, including information for more than 5,000 communities not available from previous economic censuses, will be available starting in February 2015. About 40 billion cells of data on U.S. businesses with paid employees will be released in total. Separate statistics for 2012 on the approximately 21 million businesses without paid employees are available here.

The statistics presented in this release are based on data from the 2007 and 2012 Economic Censuses and include data only for establishments with paid employees. The 2012 Economic Census Industry Series results will be superseded in subsequent 2012 Economic Census data product releases. All dollar values are expressed in current dollars relative to each survey year; i.e., they are not adjusted for price changes. For more information about the Economic Census, including a data release schedule and information on comparability, confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions, see Census.