Source: Blog – Alliance for American Manufacturing

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A new interactive tool pinpoints more than 2,000 facilities that contribute to America’s domestic auto supply chains.

The U.S. auto industry isn’t just about building cars. It’s about people — millions of workers, their families, and the communities that rely on manufacturing to thrive. For generations, this sector has been the backbone of the American economy, shaping middle-class life and driving innovation. Today, the industry is undergoing a transformation, and a groundbreaking new tool from the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA), a coalition of labor unions and environmental organizations, is helping us see the road ahead more clearly.

BGA launched its new auto supply chain tool on Jan. 22 to map the over 2,000 facilities nationwide that contribute to the U.S. auto industry. From assembly plants where vehicles roll off the line to smaller operations producing batteries, steel, and other essential components, this tool shows the auto sector’s incredible reach.

“As we contemplate the future of domestic vehicle manufacturing, it’s critical that we recognize just how much of our economy is tied to it, and just how many livelihoods depend on it,” said Ted Fertik, BlueGreen Alliance vice president of manufacturing and industrial policy. “Revitalizing the U.S. auto industry means building an economy that works for working people.”

When looking at the BGA map, the auto supply chain can be segmented into color-coded tiers to show the levels of production in making a vehicle. Tier 1 includes assembly plants; Tier 2 covers propulsion systems, electronics, body, and interior components; Tier 3 focuses on parts and materials; and Tier 4 includes infrastructure, such as electric vehicle (EV) chargers or aftermarket parts. But, what makes this map so powerful is its usability. You can search by state, congressional district, or specific types of facility — like those focused on EVs or hybrids.

The result: A lot of facilities supporting autos.

For example, if you want to search Ohio’s auto footprint, you can type in “OH” in the Congressional District search bar, and “Select all” to view all the 186 facilities in Ohio.  You can further filter it down to EVs in Ohio by selecting “EV” under the Fuel Technology category, which lists 31 facilities that meet those criteria. On the lower-right of your computer screen, you’ll be able to view the names and locations of those facilities.

BGA’s map allows users to filter by areas hit hardest by economic changes, regions where manufacturing jobs have declined. This includes deindustrialized communities, disadvantaged communities, and coal closure communities. It shows how investments in clean technologies are revitalizing these areas, providing good-paying jobs and new opportunities, highlighting that the future of auto manufacturing isn’t just about cars — it’s about people and places coming back to life.

The map also emphasizes how policies like the 30D Clean Vehicle Tax Credit are shaping the coming decades. This tax credit, worth up to $7,000 for eligible clean vehicles, encourages manufacturers to build EVs with American-made batteries and materials. The tool highlights facilities already benefiting from these policies, as well as those that could in the future, depending on changes in their sourcing practices.

While the map shines a light on opportunity, it also complements the insights from our February 2024 report, “On a Collision Course”. The report stresses the importance of the U.S. auto industry, which directly supports more than one million jobs in the United States. These jobs tend to pay higher wages, and the multiplier effect is enormous. According to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, each domestic auto job supports approximately 11 others. The auto industry has always been a driver of economic growth. BGA’s map adds to this conversation, showing where strategic investments can boost domestic manufacturing, reinforce supply chains, and ensure that clean technologies are built by American workers.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently called out the U.S. auto industry’s importance in a speech at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. “If the autos succeed, Michigan succeeds, and America succeeds,” she said. Her comments underscore why tools like BGA’s map are so vital; they help ensure that the auto industry’s evolution benefits everyone — from the workers on the factory floor to the communities surrounding those facilities. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t just happen in policy meetings or corporate boardrooms — it happens in towns and neighborhoods across the country.

BGA’s webinar demonstrating their new auto supply chain mapping tool is available here.

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