The United States is the world’s second-largest vehicle producer, with an estimated production of 10.6 million units in 2024, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA)1. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate for light vehicle sales surpassed 17.83 million units in March 2025, the highest figure since 2021, showing a stable recovery following the challenges of the pandemic and supply chain disruptions.
The U.S. automotive sector generates over 10.1 million direct and indirect jobs and accounts for nearly 5% of private sector employment. One of the most significant trends is the acceleration in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). In 2023, over 1.4 million EVs were sold in the U.S.4, a year-over-year growth of 40%. This push is supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocates over 370 billion dollars in incentives for the production and adoption of electric vehicles and clean technologies.
Major American manufacturers, such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, are heavily investing in electrification and digitalization, while Tesla maintains a dominant share of the EV market with over 50%.
According to ANFAC (Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers), Spain is the second-largest vehicle manufacturer in Europe and the ninth largest globally, with a production of 2.38 million vehicles in 2024. Additionally, 89% of the vehicles manufactured in Spain are exported.
The Madrid region represents a fundamental industrial hub, with the automotive industry contributing around 3 billion euros (60% of revenue) in exports and generating employment for over 9,000 people. Madrid hosts more than 200 companies in the sector, including plants for IVECO and Stellantis. Specifically, Stellantis’s commitment to Spain is so significant that it has solidified its industrial leadership in the country, accounting for 41.3% of the total automobiles produced nationwide, as well as 93.5% of the total volume of 100% electric passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
Events like MOTORTEC IFEMA Madrid, the largest automotive aftermarket trade show in Southern Europe, bring together more than 500 exhibitors and 60,000 professionals, reinforcing its position as a hub for innovation and networking.
Madrid is a destination for leading global companies in the automotive sector because it offers companies numerous strategic advantages:
• Expanding Market: The renewal of the vehicle fleet and population dynamics generate high growth potential for both the sale of electric vehicles (38% of electric
and electrified vehicles in Spain in 2023 were registered in the Madrid region) and the installation of charging points.
• Innovative and Flexible Ecosystem: Spanish production plants are among the most efficient and automated in Europe, with one of the highest rates of investment in modernization, automation, and R&D&i among industrial sectors, and a flexible and complete value chain. The collaborative ecosystem fostered by Madrid bridges the gap between traditional automotive companies, new technology companies and start-ups, technology centers, and research institutions. The region has universities and associations, such as the Madrid Automotive Cluster (MCA) and the Madri+d Foundation, which drive research in electromobility, autonomous vehicles, and digitalization.
• Institutional Support and Incentives: The Community actively promotes sustainable mobility through the Plan Mueve Madrid10 and the Estrategia Madrid 36011, which foster sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions. Initiatives for electrification, mobility sandboxes, the creation of urban mobility ecosystems, and the integration of smart cities in several of its key urban centers demonstrate Madrid’s commitment to innovative and environmentally respectful mobility solutions.
• High-Level Logistics Infrastructure: Madrid constitutes a privileged logistics platform for exporting to other international markets, both due to its strategic
location and its development and investments in logistics infrastructures and platforms. The Madrid region currently has 23 logistics parks, and over 90%
of the vehicles manufactured in Spain are already exported to more than 100 countries. Furthermore, the regional government has launched the Madrid Logistics
Agency, which will help strengthen administrative tools to promote the region as a connected logistics territory.
• Privileged Access to the European Market: Madrid is a logistics hub connecting to over 450 million consumers in the European Union, facilitating efficient distribution and exportation.
Furthermore, the growing demand for electric vehicles and clean technologies in Europe makes Madrid an ideal destination for U.S. companies to expand their presence and collaborate with European partners on innovation and production.
Automotive industries in the U.S. and Madrid are undergoing a key transformation. While the U.S. leads in technological innovation, Madrid offers a robust platform for production, exportation, and collaboration. For U.S. investors, the Madrid region not only opens the door to the European market but also to the future of mobility. Leveraging these synergies is an opportunity to accelerate innovation, diversify risks, and enhance global competitiveness.