The specialty automotive aftermarket industry is a vibrant part of the national economy, accounting for about $383 billion in annual economic impact through its robust manufacturing, distributing, and retail presence. The automotive aftermarket industry directly and indirectly employs approximately 1.25 million Americans who earned wages and benefits of about $108 billion. Our industry annually contributes nearly $46 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
The economic impact of the automotive aftermarket industry is an impactful reminder of the power of domestic manufacturing and a shining example of America’s ability to innovate and deliver exceptional products to market.
To learn more about the economic impact of our industry in your state, use SEMA’s interactive map below. The map enables users to drill down on the industry’s economic impact of a specific congressional district, or state legislative and senate districts.
This data is valuable for conversations with your state and local lawmakers and community leaders.
Resources
About the Study
The Specialty Equipment Industry Economic Impact Study estimates the economic contributions made by the specialty equipment industry, which includes manufacturers, distributors and retailers of aftermarket performance and accessory parts that are considered an upgrade in terms of performance or appearance or for restoration purposes (vintage parts and replicas). Performance and accessory parts could be for either passenger cars, trucks, or 4-wheel off-road vehicles (e.g., dune buggies, ATVs, UTVs). Car clubs are also included. Data are for the United States economy in 2026. John Dunham & Associates (JDA) conducted this research, which was funded by SEMA. This work used standard econometric models first developed by the U.S. Forest Service, and now maintained by IMPLAN Inc. Data came from SEMA, Data Axle, and other government sources.
The study measures the number of jobs in the specialty equipment industry, the wages paid to employees, and total output. In addition, it measures the economic impact of the suppliers that support the specialty equipment industry, as well as those industries supported by the induced spending of direct and supplier employees.
Industries are linked to each other when one industry buys from another to produce its own product or service. Each industry in turn makes purchases from a different mix of other industries, and so on. Employees in all industries extend the economic impact when they spend their earnings. Thus, economic activity started by the specialty equipment industry generates output (and jobs) in hundreds of other industries, often in areas far removed from the original economic activity. The impact of supplier firms, and the "induced impact" of the re-spending by employees of industry and supplier firms, is calculated using an input/output model of United States economy. The study calculates the impact at the national, state, congressional and state legislative districts levels.
The study also estimates taxes paid by the specialty equipment industry and its employees. Federal, state, and local tax systems vary widely. State business taxes may include state and local sales taxes, license fees, and applicable gross receipt taxes as well as real estate and personal property taxes, business income taxes, and other business levies that vary in each municipality. Since there are tens of thousands of taxing districts in the country it is not possible to calculate the sales taxes generated by consumer purchases of these products.
For more information about this study, please contact Matt Daigle, SEMA’s senior director of communications, at mattd@sema.org.