Women's History Month: A Nod to Women in the Auto Industry

Society’s standards in the world of employment are ever-changing. Every industry looks different from one another in terms of who’s sitting in the driver’s seat and who is more likely to be a part of the support crew – including the automotive industry. One driver of change that’s often overlooked in automotive? Women.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, just over 21% of the total number of employed people in the automobile deals and retail trade were women in 2020. Even less so were employed in automotive parts, accessories, tire stores (16.9%), and automotive repair and maintenance industry (9%) last year.

Even though the percentage of women in the automotive industry is lower than their male counterparts, women have always played a vital role in the history (and future) of this industry’s success. Did you know that the CEO of General Motors is a woman? Mary Barra is the first female chief executive of any major car company. According to Forbes, she also boasts the highest compensation of any executive among top automakers.

Besides the more widely known contributions by women at the C-Suite level, many others have shaped the history behind the scenes – including Alice Ramsey, the first female to drive cross country in 1909, and Mary Anderson, the inventor of the first-ever windshield wiper in 1903. During Women’s History Month, we’re proud to support women in whatever careers they pursue, but we’re incredibly proud of the path they’ve paved for the automotive industry.