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Rhode Island is an Auto State

19.6K Jobs

Powered by Rhode Island’s Auto Industry

Industry Impact

Every Job Tells a Story

Rhode Island’s auto industry supports an estimated 19,562 jobs — from assembly lines to engineering labs, supply chain logistics to dealership floors.

49.4K

New Vehicles Sold

$69,350

Average labor income per auto job

$1.36B

Annual Labor Income

3%

Share of Rhode Island Jobs Supported

3%

of Economy

$2.32B

State GDP

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and IHS Markit / S&P Global Mobility — Rhode Island, 2024.

Automaker Facilities

Built in Rhode Island

Facility Organization City State Type
Port-Davisville Volkswagen Group Davisville Rhode Island Logistics
Explore Nationwide Facilities
Source: Alliance for Automotive Innovation — Member Facility Directory, Rhode Island, 2024.

Tax Revenue Generation

$169.24M

in state tax revenue generated by the automotive industry’s economic activity.

3%

of total state tax revenue

$108.76M

Federal income taxes

$173.22M

Vehicle use tax / licenses / fees

$158.02M

New vehicle sales taxes

$38.13M

Parts & services sales tax

$7.19M

Corporate profits taxes

$92.44M

Used vehicle sales taxes

Source: Multi-industry contribution analysis of the economic impact of automotive manufacturing, selling, repairing, renting, and additional maintenance modeled using IMPLAN economic analysis data software, 2023 data year.

Vehicles Sold

49.4K

2024 Vehicle Sales

$2.26B

The average age of Rhode Island vehicles is 11.5 years

Compared to the national average of 12.2 years

Source: Compiled by Alliance for Automotive Innovation with data provided by S&P Global Mobility, sales figures represent new vehicle registrations between January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024; average age compiled by Alliance for Automotive Innovation with data provided by S&P Global Mobility, vehicles in operation as of December 31, 2024; New vehicle sales revenue derived from NADA Data.

New vehicle purchases and registrations

49.4K

new vehicles sold across Rhode Island in 2024

Purchases ByBody Style

  • 31.7K UVs (64.05%)
  • 9.2K Cars (18.54%)
  • 6.7K Pickups (13.59%)
  • 1.9K Vans/Minivans (3.82%)

Purchases ByPowertrain

  • 45.3K ICE / Hybrid (91.58%)
  • 2.5K Electric (5.15%)
  • 1.6K Plug-in Hybrid (3.27%)

Source: Registration figures compiled by Alliance for Automotive Innovation with data provided by S&P Global Mobility as of December 31, 2024; new purchase figures compiled by Alliance for Automotive Innovation with data provided by S&P Global Mobility representing new vehicle registrations between January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

Activity at Ports

Rhode Island’s Auto Trade Footprint

Rhode Island ports moved $7.09B in automotive trade in 2024 alone, led by exports to Dominican Republic. Past-decade totals reach $63.89B.

2024 Imports

2024 Exports

$6.92B

Vehicles & parts entering RI ports

$165.99M

Vehicles & parts shipped from RI ports

Past Decade Totals

$63.07B

Vehicles & parts entering RI ports

$819.86M

Vehicles & parts shipped from RI ports

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. International Trade Statistics — Rhode Island ports of entry, 2024.

Fueling

Rhode Island’s Fueling Network

Gasoline still anchors the network statewide, with 343 public EV charging stations across Rhode Island.

Gasoline Stations

407

EV Level 2 Charging Ports

691

EV DC Fast Charging Ports

114

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center — Rhode Island, 2024.

Consumers

64% of Rhode Island households own their homes, and 73% of workers drive alone to work.

Median Household Income

$85.0K

Owner Occupied Housing

64%

Rental Occupied Housing

36%

Commutingto Work

  • Drove Alone to Work (73%)
  • Worked from Home (12%)
  • Carpooled (8%)
  • Other (6%)
  • Public Transit (2%)

HousingType

  • Single-Family (55%)
  • 2-4 Units (22%)
  • 20+ Unit Buildings (9%)
  • 5-9 Units (5%)
  • 1-Unit (Attached) (4%)
  • 10-19 Units (3%)
  • Mobile / RV / Boat (1%)

Source: Figures compiled by Alliance for Automotive Innovation with data provided U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2023.

Employment

Jobs Across the State

Headquarters, assembly plants, R&D centers, and supplier operations across the state — led by Rhode Island’s largest automotive employers.

Source: Alliance for Automotive Innovation — Member Facility Directory, Rhode Island, 2024.

  • 2

    Employees

    Volkswagen Group

    Port-Davisville

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