Macomb County is ‘part’ of your vehicle

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan has the highest percentage of auto production in the United States, with Detroit acting as the hub for all things automotive since the early 1900s. Since then, vehicle manufacturing has expanded throughout the metro area.

Macomb County lives 25 miles up the coast from the Motor City and acts as one major cog in the automotive machine here in Southeastern Michigan. While every car is not fully assembled here, our manufacturers help produce many of the parts that make up a vehicle, including some of the most important components, such as the engine, brakes and other electrical parts. In total, Macomb is home to 338 vehicle manufacturers that provide almost 22,000 jobs and $13 billion in revenue annually*.

The different types of automotive manufacturers within the County can be broken down into eight different categories, pulled from Lightcast data:

• Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing
• Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing
• Brake System Manufacturing
• Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing
• Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing
• Metal Stamping
• Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
  

Motor vehicle stamping, which brings in the most sales out of all Macomb County's automotive manufacturing groups, also brings in the most revenue, with a total of $4.4 billion in sales. This category comprises 45 companies, including Oakley Industries, a long time participantof Macomb County's Manufacturing Day, and AGS Automotive Systems, a 2024 Macomb Business Awards winner for Best Place to Work.

The 14 businesses who manufacture transmission and power train parts have the second biggest outgoing sales - a total of $3.2 billion - and provide 4,545 jobs. One of these manufacturers, SAPA Transmission, has been a leading supplier to the United States Army since as early as 1982. They expanded to Macomb County in 2018 and, currently, their location in Shelby Township acts as their only facility in North America.

The 20 local companies that produce vehicle seating and interior trim parts bring in $2.9 billion in total sales and provide 5,326 jobs. This is the third largest group of motor vehicle manufacturing in Macomb County and includes companies such as Fisher Dynamics, a Detroit-founded automotive supplier who has since expanded across the globe.

Gasoline engine and other engine parts manufacturing provide 727 jobs and bring in about $518.9 million in total revenue. In Macomb County, there are 12 businesses who are a part of this category. Additionally, the five businesses who manufacture brake systems provide 131 jobs and bring in a total of $100.3 million in sales.

Electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing, which is a category comprising six companies in Macomb County, provides 162 jobs and $56.2 million in total revenue. One of these businesses is Magna, a globally operating manufacturer with facilities in both Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

The manufacturing category that makes up steering and suspension components provides 14 jobs and $5.3 million in total sales, while the 22 companies that produce other additional vehicle parts provide 3,592 jobs and a total of $1.7 billion in sales. This category of manufacturers is broad and fairly undefined, comprising not only Magna, but other automotive giants such as General Motors, Stellantisand ZF.

Macomb County is continuously evolving with the enhancement of new technology, and stays a driving force in the automotive sector. Our County's workforce development and commitment to fueling the talent pipeline showcases why Michigan is the #1 home for the automotive industryin the nation.

_{*All Lightcast data is from the year 2023.}

Department:Macomb Business