Analysis
NAICS 33621 is the 2022 NAICS industry for motor vehicle body and trailer manufacturing, part of 3362 (Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing). Census lists 56 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 2,199 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 170,535 people at an average annual payroll of $59,055 per employee (32nd percentile of national industries). 23% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 14% and employment rose 2%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Across its national industries Census lists 56 index entries; typical ones are ambulance bodies manufacturing, automobile transporter trailers, multi-car, manufacturing, assembly line conversions of purchased vans and minivans and automobile transporter trailers, single car, manufacturing.
Its goods appear in 33 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 8716 (trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not…), 8703 (motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed…) and 8707 (bodies (including cabs), for the motor vehicles of headings…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 32199, 81112, 33611 and 33612. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) manufacturing motor vehicle bodies and cabs or (2) manufacturing truck, automobile and utility trailers, truck trailer chassis, detachable trailer bodies, and detachable trailer chassis. The products made may be sold separately or may be assembled on purchased chassis and sold as complete vehicles. Motor homes are units where the motor and the living quarters are contained in the same integrated unit, while travel trailers are designed to be towed by a motor unit, such as an automobile or a light truck.
Illustrative Examples:
Bodies and cabs, truck, manufacturing Camper units, slide-in, for pick-up trucks, manufacturing Pick-up canopies, caps, or covers manufacturing Motor homes, self-contained, assembling on purchased chassis Semi-trailers manufacturing Travel trailers, recreational, manufacturing
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Making manufactured homes (i.e., mobile homes) | 32199 All Other Wood Product Manufacturing |
| Customizing automotive vehicle and trailer interiors (i.e., van conversions) on an individual basis | 81112 Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair |
| Manufacturing complete automobiles and light duty motor vehicles (i.e., body and chassis or unibody) or manufacturing automobile and light duty motor vehicle chassis only | 33611 Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing heavy duty trucks, buses, motor homes, and other special purpose heavy duty motor vehicles for highway use (i.e., body and chassis) or manufacturing heavy duty truck chassis only | 33612 Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
Index entries (56)
- Ambulance bodies manufacturing
- Automobile transporter trailers, multi-car, manufacturing
- Assembly line conversions of purchased vans and minivans
- Automobile transporter trailers, single car, manufacturing