RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) announced today it will undertake a landmark study documenting the significant economic influence of automotive and heavy duty suppliers.

“It’s time for automotive and truck product manufacturers to step out of the shadows,” said Bob McKenna, president and CEO of MEMA. “We know that we are a major force in the nation’s largest manufacturing industry, but now it is time to tell the rest of the world our story.”

The association said the study will be supported by never before collected facts and figures that will analyze the economic contribution of suppliers to the nation’s economy and will provide data on both a national level and state-by-state breakdown. The data will result in valuable statistics such as direct and intermediate employment; value of goods shipped; value of goods and services purchased; the percentage of sales suppliers dedicate to engineering, research and development; federal, state and local taxes generated from automotive suppliers; and total compensation for both direct and intermediate employment.

MEMA has chosen the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) to conduct the survey, McKenna said. “Under the direction of Dr. David Cole, CAR is uniquely positioned to perform and disseminate impact research on important trends and changes in the world motor vehicle industry,” he noted. “CAR possesses more than 25 years of experience in developing industry consensus in partnership with affiliates and numerous government agencies.”

The final report is projected to be completed in November. The data will be used by elected officials and their staffs, primarily in Washington D.C. In addition, MEMA plans to use the data in discussions with administration officials as well as the news media and state economic development agencies, McKenna noted. MEMA members will have access to this data and and are encouraged to use it in presentations and in other venues, he said.

For more information about MEMA, go to: mema.org.

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