Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Vehicles in operation in the United States - statistics & facts
The United States relies heavily on motor vehicles as their preferred mean of transportation. This preference is partially linked to longer trip distances compared to other parts of the globe, as the United States boasts one of the world's largest road networks. In 2022, some 3.17 trillion vehicle-miles were traveled across the country. In the fourth quarter of 2022, just over 285 million vehicles were registered in the United States. The country recorded nearly 232.8 million people holding a driver's license in 2021, which was the most driver's license recorded in the country since 1990. This reliance on private vehicles was most visible in Southern states, which comprised almost half of the car owners in the country in 2021, and people between 45 and 74 years old.
General Motors and Toyota are the largest automotive manufacturers in the United States, slowly edging out Ford. Between January and December 2022, General Motors was the manufacturer selling the most light vehicles to customers in the United States. Monthly U.S. vehicle sales have rebounded from the drop in demand recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been consistently above one million between March 2021 and August 2022. In parallel, supply chain issues linked with the global semiconductor shortage depleted the available stock for both new and used vehicles nationwide, hitting a record low in February 2022. Toyota and General Motors both recorded a substantial impact on their inventory across their various brands. Russia's invasion of Ukraine also contributed to new challenges for the industry, including vehicle price inflation, higher primary material costs, and soaring gas prices.
The United States boasted the most extended road network worldwide. At just under 6.6 million kilometers in 2020 (approximately 4.1 million miles), it was around 38 percent longer than the Chinese road network. Longer distances are, however, only part of the incentive towards mass motorization in the country. Gasoline prices rapidly increased in 2022, soaring to over five U.S. dollars per gallon in June 2022, as price uncertainties due to Russia's war in Ukraine disrupted the market. However, the U.S. contrasts with other countries with a higher petrol price tag. This relatively lower price point contributed to the country's reliance on motor vehicles, especially as gasoline was the preferred fuel type for American drivers in 2021.
International challenges impact the sector
Most motor vehicles were registered in California, the country's most populous state. Approximately 31.4 million vehicles were recorded there in 2021, including roughly 14.3 million automobiles and around 15.9 million private and commercial trucks. Unsurprisingly, the Golden State also boasted the highest number of drivers with valid licenses: 27.1 million in 2021.General Motors and Toyota are the largest automotive manufacturers in the United States, slowly edging out Ford. Between January and December 2022, General Motors was the manufacturer selling the most light vehicles to customers in the United States. Monthly U.S. vehicle sales have rebounded from the drop in demand recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been consistently above one million between March 2021 and August 2022. In parallel, supply chain issues linked with the global semiconductor shortage depleted the available stock for both new and used vehicles nationwide, hitting a record low in February 2022. Toyota and General Motors both recorded a substantial impact on their inventory across their various brands. Russia's invasion of Ukraine also contributed to new challenges for the industry, including vehicle price inflation, higher primary material costs, and soaring gas prices.
Mass motorization and the U.S. car owner
Driving in the United States decreased amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as national lockdowns and an increase in remote working led to a decrease in the need for regular commuting. Driving was the preferred mode of transportation for commuting in the U.S. in 2022, which partly explains the quick rebound in the total volume of vehicle-miles traveled in the country, though this amount did not surpass its 2019 peak. Over three-quarters of the U.S. population were car owners, as a 2021 survey highlighted.The United States boasted the most extended road network worldwide. At just under 6.6 million kilometers in 2020 (approximately 4.1 million miles), it was around 38 percent longer than the Chinese road network. Longer distances are, however, only part of the incentive towards mass motorization in the country. Gasoline prices rapidly increased in 2022, soaring to over five U.S. dollars per gallon in June 2022, as price uncertainties due to Russia's war in Ukraine disrupted the market. However, the U.S. contrasts with other countries with a higher petrol price tag. This relatively lower price point contributed to the country's reliance on motor vehicles, especially as gasoline was the preferred fuel type for American drivers in 2021.
