Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacture

The US auto parts manufacturing industry consists of about 4,500 companies with combined annual revenue of about $225 billion. Large companies include ArvinMeritor, Dana, Delphi, Lear, Visteon, and the automotive division of Johnson Controls. The industry is concentrated.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand for auto parts is driven by new car sales, which are strongly affected by interest rates, and by the replacement market. Company profitability industry depends partly on the difficulty of manufacturing products and partly on demand volume, since many costs are fixed. Small companies can compete successfully by focusing on a small number of products or some highly technical ones.

The structure of the industry is complex, with most smaller companies (referred to as "tier 2" and "tier 3" suppliers) selling parts to larger suppliers (referred to as "tier 1" suppliers), who in turn sell component assemblies or modules to car and truck assemblers such as GM and Ford - collectively called OEMs.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Auto part suppliers make components that are assembled by the car companies. Major product categories are transmission and power train components (17 percent of revenue); engines and engine parts (16 percent); metal stamping of body parts and trim (13 percent); electrical and electronic equipment (11 percent); seating and interior trim (9 percent); and brake systems (6 percent). Other products include steering and suspension components and air conditioning systems. Parts manufacturing plants are often located close to the assembly plants ...