Jamie Stitt

Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243
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Automotive

Masters of Automotive Manufacturing

The Southeast has emerged as the driving force in automotive manufacturing in the United States, and Tennessee is its engine.

With more than 900 auto suppliers and the second lowest tax burden in the nation, Tennessee is the beating heart of the southern automotive corridor.

Tennessee has been Business Facilities magazine’s top state in automotive manufacturing strength five years over the last decade, thanks in large part to our highly trained workforce and their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Tennessee’s automotive manufacturing cluster includes four major assembly plants and automotive operations in 88 of 95 counties. Nissan’s North American headquarters is in Franklin, and its plant in Smyrna is regularly the most productive in North America. With General Motors in Spring Hill, Volkswagen in Chattanooga and Ford Motor Company’s future location Haywood County, Tennessee continues to invest in training for the state’s high concentration of automotive employment, a number that’s 3.0 times the national average.

Transportation equipment is one of  Tennessee’s top export – accounting for 15% of Tennessee’s total exports. In 2022, 6 percent of all U.S.-made cars, light trucks and SUVs were produced in Tennessee.

Automotive-related manufacturers in Tennessee include Hankook Tire, Bridgestone Americas, Calsonic Kansei, Magnetti Marelli, SL Tennessee, Denso Manufacturing, Yorozu Automotive, JTEKT, Mahle, and M-Tek.

Join these and other famous names in automotive manufacturing to get on the road to greater success.

Quick Facts

142.9K+

Tennesseans employed by automotive establishments

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900+

Automotive establishments in Tennessee

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$15.3+

Billion in foreign investments in Tennessee operations

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#1

In the Southeast for automotive employment

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600K+

Cars, light trucks and SUVs produced annually

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$5.8+

Billion in automotive exports in 2022

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31K+

Electric vehicles manufactured in Tennessee annually

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General Motors

Denso

VanHool

John Deere

Volvo Penta Marine

Tennessee is proud to promote

The company we keep

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Automotive Employment by County

Knoxville