NAICS 336110 Quarterly Industry Report
Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 336110Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 336110 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[4], Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], and the Small Business Administration[6]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to automobile and light duty motor vehicle manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Definition & Overview
Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing (NAICS 336110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing or assembling complete automobiles, light duty motor vehicles, and light duty chassis. Products include passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, minivans, crossover utility vehicles, and light duty electric vehicles. The U.S. Census Bureau[4] classifies this industry under motor vehicle manufacturing within the transportation equipment sector.
Roughly 245 active businesses employ an estimated 196,000 workers in this industry. Assembly operations are extraordinarily capital-intensive, with a single vehicle assembly plant requiring investment typically exceeding $1 billion. Production uses moving assembly line methods with stamping, body welding, paint, and final trim and chassis operations sequenced across facilities often exceeding 3 million square feet. Body-in-white construction relies on robotic spot welding and adhesive bonding, while paint operations apply multiple coating layers in environmentally controlled booths.
Domestic and foreign-owned automakers operate assembly plants across the United States, with heavy concentration in the Midwest and Southeast. Just-in-time supply chain management connects each plant to hundreds of Tier 1 and Tier 2 parts suppliers delivering components on precisely timed schedules. Electric vehicle production has introduced battery pack assembly, electric drive unit integration, and high-voltage wiring as new manufacturing disciplines. Steel, aluminum, plastics, and glass constitute the primary raw materials, with aluminum and advanced high-strength steel usage increasing to meet federal fuel economy and emissions standards. UAW and other union labor agreements govern wage structures at many domestic assembly plants, directly affecting production cost competitiveness relative to non-union facilities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Passenger car assembly and manufacturing
- Sport utility vehicle production
- Pickup truck manufacturing and assembly
- Minivan and crossover vehicle production
- Electric vehicle assembly operations
- Light duty chassis manufacturing
- Vehicle body stamping and welding operations
- Paint and coating application for vehicle bodies
- Final trim and assembly line operations
- Light duty hybrid vehicle manufacturing
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336 |
| Industry Group | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 3361 |
| NAICS Industry | Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 33611 |
| National Industry | Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 336110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 336120 | Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing | Manufactures heavy duty trucks and chassis above 14,000 pounds GVWR rather than the light duty passenger vehicles and trucks produced in this classification |
| 336211 | Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing | Produces motor vehicle bodies and cabs that mount onto chassis rather than the complete assembled vehicles manufactured at integrated assembly plants in this industry |
| 336310 | Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures gasoline engines and engine parts as components supplied to vehicle assembly plants rather than complete finished vehicles produced here |
| 336320 | Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing | Produces motor vehicle electrical and electronic equipment installed during assembly rather than the complete vehicles manufactured in this classification |
| 336390 | Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures other motor vehicle parts including stamped metal body components supplied to assembly plants rather than complete assembled automobiles and trucks |
| 336360 | Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing | Produces motor vehicle seating and interior trim components installed on the assembly line rather than the complete vehicles manufactured in this industry |
SBA Lending Summary
24
Total SBA Loans
$20.7M
Total Loan Volume
$864K
Average Loan Size
15 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.17%
Average Interest Rate
160
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: The SBA[6] sets the size standard for NAICS 336110 at 1,500 employees. This high threshold reflects the capital intensity and scale of vehicle assembly operations. Federal procurement of light duty vehicles occurs primarily through General Services Administration fleet purchasing programs. The SBA's contracting programs[7] can support specialty vehicle manufacturers and small-volume assemblers pursuing government fleet and military light vehicle contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[9] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 16 | $17.1M | $1.1M |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $3.6M | $450K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 336110?
Manufacturers and assemblers of complete automobiles, light duty trucks, SUVs, minivans, crossovers, and light duty electric vehicles classify here. This includes both domestic and foreign-owned assembly plants producing finished vehicles per the Census Bureau[4] classification.
How is the automobile manufacturing industry structured?
Roughly 245 businesses employ an estimated 196,000 workers per Census data[10]. Production is dominated by a small number of large automakers operating plants exceeding 3 million square feet, each requiring over $1 billion in capital investment. Smaller specialty manufacturers produce low-volume vehicles.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 336110?
The SBA[6] sets the threshold at 1,500 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,500 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to automobile manufacturing?
Related codes include 336120 (Heavy Duty Trucks), 336211 (Vehicle Bodies), 336310 (Engines), 336320 (Vehicle Electrical Equipment), 336390 (Vehicle Parts), and 336360 (Vehicle Seating). Each covers specific component or vehicle categories distinct from complete light duty vehicle assembly.
What industries interact with automobile manufacturers?
Parts suppliers, new car dealers, battery manufacturers, steel producers, and engine manufacturers interact most directly. Hundreds of Tier 1 and Tier 2 parts suppliers deliver components on just-in-time schedules to each assembly plant, while franchised dealer networks handle retail distribution and warranty service nationwide.
What activities are included in NAICS 336110?
Activities include stamping body panels from steel and aluminum sheet, robotic welding of body structures, painting vehicle bodies in multi-stage coating booths, assembling interior trim and seats, installing powertrains and chassis components on moving assembly lines, integrating battery packs for electric vehicles, and performing end-of-line quality testing.
Can automobile manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,500 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[7] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Specialty and low-volume vehicle manufacturers can finance stamping presses, robotic welding cells, paint booth systems, and assembly tooling through SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are automobile manufacturers concentrated?
Assembly plants concentrate in the Midwest and Southeast. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky host numerous plants from the traditional Detroit automakers, while Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia attracted foreign-owned manufacturers with greenfield assembly facilities. Proximity to supplier networks, skilled labor, and interstate freight corridors drives plant location decisions across both regions.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [7]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
- [10]Census data naicslist.com
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