The automotive industry consists of an expansive array of businesses and organizations with an important objective of developing, designing, producing, marketing, and selling of automobiles. The automobile industry creates an essential part of the global economy due to revenue generated by automobiles, but are not wholly contained in the industry itself. In the United States alone, the automotive industry generates approximately 12% of the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The automotive industry employs millions of workers in a wide range of businesses ranging from dealerships and retail outlets to suppliers and automotive-related companies such as manufacturers, suppliers, auto technicians, and automobile service providers.
While the automotive industry generally produces passenger cars and light vehicles, it also includes other types of passenger automobiles such as minivans, trucks, buses, coaches, and SUVs. The automotive industry also manufactures engines, transmissions, electrical motors, body kits, exhaust systems, electrical parts and components, clutches, pedals, instruments, power train units, electronics, automatic safety belts, automatic transmissions, automatic clutches and breaks, tires and roll cages. Examples include parts for example airbags, automatic seatbelts, Cruise control, front and rear bumper based vehicle defrost technology, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and ignition coils. Automotive software and hardware can be anything from computer driven diagnostic and maintenance systems to complete vehicle management systems. Automotive service centers usually include repair, preventive maintenance, and auto tune-ups.
Automotive producers, distributors, and suppliers have their own unique marketing and promotional strategies. In order to maintain market share, manufacturers and distributors will do whatever they can within the legal framework of the country to make their products accessible to the general public. This includes distributing literature, sponsoring government sponsored events, holding seminars and exhibitions, participating in trade shows, and publishing magazines and booklets on the advantages of motor vehicles. Automobile companies use advertising and marketing resources such as logos, apparel, image development, and distribution of branded product. The automotive industry is a very profitable one with annual revenues reaching well into the six figure range in some countries.