How many components does a vehicle have? The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) in the United States has the answer.
According to this association, an average vehicle can include 30,000 or more components, reflecting the complexity and sophistication inherent in the modern vehicle manufacturing sector.
How many components does a vehicle have?
MEMA included this information in a letter it sent to the USTR as part of the USMCA review in the automotive industry. It also informed the U.S. government that it believes the overall objective of the review should be to preserve and strengthen the USMCA.
MEMA is the leading association of auto parts manufacturers in the United States. It also brings together more than 900 suppliers in the automotive sector. These companies develop technology and manufacture parts, systems, and materials for both original equipment and the aftermarket.
On the one hand, suppliers conceive, design, and produce original equipment components. Together, these inputs represent about two-thirds of the value of each new vehicle. Thus, their weight in the automotive chain is decisive.
At the same time, the industry remains a significant channel for investment in the United States. In fact, a report by the International Trade Commission, published in July 2025, highlighted the sector’s growth in recent years. According to the document, auto parts production rose from $311.8 billion in 2019 to $349 billion in 2024.
On the other hand, suppliers also manufacture aftermarket parts, as well as key technologies and materials for the maintenance and repair of vehicles on U.S. roads. In this context, the aftermarket generates around $557 billion in economic activity and accounts for more than 500,000 companies, including 6,500 auto parts manufacturers.
Rules of origin
Since its implementation in July 2020, the USMCA has boosted employment in the United States, according to the Association. In addition, it has expanded the economic footprint of the automotive supplier sector.
In this context, MEMA member companies, which include Original Equipment and Aftermarket, as well as Cars and Commercial Vehicles, support the continuation of the Agreement in its current form. Therefore, the association worked in coordination with the Trump Administration, the USTR, and Congress to facilitate its approval and adoption.
During the renegotiation, MEMA members identified provisions in the USMCA on trade in automotive goods, particularly preferential rules of origin, that introduced a stricter framework. These criteria incorporated concepts that were unprecedented in other U.S. and international trade agreements.