The automotive industry employs about 13 million people in Europe.

Omissions

• The 13 million figure refers to the European Union and covers both direct and indirect (supply-chain and downstream) employment, not just automotive manufacturing: e.g. 2.4–2.6 million people work in manufacturing itself.
• The figures are estimates published before the session date (ACEA and European Commission pages; Eurofound 2025), and are not a single precise statistical figure: sources range from 13.0 million (ACEA) to 13.8 million (European Commission).
• Eurofound's own narrower estimate puts core automotive-sector employment (manufacturing and selected downstream activities) at about 6.72 million workers, 3% of EU employment in Q3 2024 — the ~13 million total depends on including indirect jobs.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Automotive industry (Single Market Economy)The automotive sector provides direct and indirect jobs to 13.8 million Europeans, representing 6.1% of total EU employment. 2.6 million people work in [manufacturing].
• SecondaryACEA — Employment in EU automotive sector (figure page)The EU automotive sector provides jobs for 13 million Europeans, accounting for 7% of total employment in the European Union.
• SecondaryACEA — Automotive sector: direct and indirect employment in the EUThe automotive industry provides direct and indirect jobs for 13.2 million Europeans, including 2.4 million manufacturing jobs.
• SecondaryACEA — Employment trends in the EU automotive sectorAccounting for 7% of total EU employment, the auto industry provides direct and indirect jobs to more than 13 million Europeans.
• SecondaryEurofound — Employment in the EU's automotive sector (2025)The Draghi report suggests that 13.8 million Europeans, or 6.1% of the EU's [employment], work in automotive manufacturing and downstream industries. With an estimated 6.72 million workers, these core elements of the automotive sector accounted for 3% of EU employment in Q3 2024.