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Fact #352: December 27, 2004
Automotive Industry Material Usage

The automotive industry uses large amounts of material each year. Seventy-four percent of all natural rubber and 70% of lead consumed in the United States in 2003 were used by the automotive industry. The automotive industry used only 4% of all plastic consumed in 2003.

Automotive Industry Share of Total U.S. Material Use, 2003
Graph showing the automotive industry share of total U.S. material use in 2003.

Supporting Information

Material Used by the Automotive Industry, 2003
  Tons of Material Automotive Industry Share of Total
U.S. Consumption
Zinc 210,000 20%
Copper 362,000 10%
Natural rubber* 882,000 74%
Lead 1,143,293 70%
Synthetic rubber* 1,166,445 53%
Plastic 2,058,998 4%
Iron 2,480,000 27%
Aluminum 3,880,500 33%
Steel 15,882,831 15%

* Rubber (natural and synthetic) data are for 2002.
Source: Ward's Communications, Ward's Motor Vehicle Facts and Figures 2004, p.56, and 2003 Edition, p. 57.

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