Build your automotive business alongside Ohio's diverse group of
manufacturers and vast automotive supply chain
Ohio is at the center of the motor vehicle industry. Nearly 80 percent of North American light vehicle production is in Ohio or within 500 miles (800 kilometers) of the state's borders. Ohio is the top automotive supplier in the U.S. and second in the nation for motor vehicle production, employing more than 120,000 people in the state.
Ohio's network of auto suppliers represents all facets of motor vehicle production, including plastics, metals, instrument control and lighting. Beyond the leading motor vehicle manufacturers located in the state – General Motors, Honda, Ford, Delphi and DaimlerChrysler – Ohio boasts an impressive network of supportive companies that in conjunction produce 15 percent of the state's total economic output.
The 397 Tier 1 automotive industry suppliers located in Ohio represent 10 percent of such establishments in North America, ranking third behind only Michigan and Ontario. Ohio Tier 1 suppliers include Dana Corporation, Eaton, Lear Corporation, Behr and Johnson Controls, providing support from drive trains to air-conditioning systems.
Second only to Michigan in motor vehicle production, Ohio's eight high-volume light vehicle plants in 2005 produced almost 1.8 million vehicles representing 15 different models – including 200,000 units-plus of best-sellers such as Accord, Cobalt, Econoline, Liberty and Trailblazer.
Distributed through 78 of Ohio's 88 counties, the motor vehicle industry is truly a statewide enterprise, with heavy concentrations along the Lake Erie coast and the metro areas of Dayton and Columbus.
