Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Motor Vehicles and Parts Manufacturing in California

Motor Vehicles and Parts manufacturing added $11.3B of value to California's economy in 2025, up 2.2% year over year. That ranks California 4th of 50 states and DC for this industry. It is 2.9% of California's manufacturing output. Nationally, motor vehicles and parts is a $185B industry (the 7th-largest of the 19 manufacturing subsectors), per the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Output and rank

  • Value added: $11.3B in 2025, #4 of 50 states and DC for this industry.
  • Growth: +2.2% year over year.
  • Share of California's manufacturing: 2.9% of the state's total manufacturing value added.
  • National context: motor vehicles and parts is a $185B industry nationally, #7 of the 19 manufacturing subsectors (-3% year over year).
  • Classification: durable goods manufacturing (BEA subsector 3361MV).

Frequently asked questions

  • How big is the motor vehicles and parts industry in California? Motor Vehicles and Parts added $11.3B of value in California in 2025, ranking the state 4th of 50 states and DC for this industry, per BEA state GDP-by-industry data.
  • Is motor vehicles and parts growing in California? California's motor vehicles and parts output grew 2.2% year over year to 2025. The chart above traces the full annual series since 1997.
  • What share of California's manufacturing is motor vehicles and parts? Motor Vehicles and Parts is 2.9% of California's total manufacturing value added in 2025, per BEA state GDP-by-industry data.

About this data

  • Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (public domain). National quarterly values are seasonally adjusted annual rates. Corporate-profit industry detail reflects inventory valuation adjustment without capital consumption adjustment, per NIPA table 6.16D conventions.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.