The largest automotive suppliers by headcount
Headcount of the world's largest automotive suppliers, from each company's latest annual report. Compiled by Philipp Raasch, almost 10 years at Mercedes-Benz, independent automotive industry analyst.
Last checked Oct 11, 2026
Bosch leads with 413,000 employees, ahead of Sumitomo Electric (302,972 employees) and CATL (185,839 employees).
Automotive suppliers by headcount
| # | Company | Size | Country | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch | Germany | 413,000 | 2025 | |
| 2 | Sumitomo Electric | Japan | 302,972 | 2026 | |
| 3 | CATL | China | 185,839 | 2026 | |
| 4 | Lear | United States | 164,300 | 2026 | |
| 5 | Denso | Japan | 160,000 | 2025 | |
| 6 | Magna International | Canada | 156,000 | 2026 | |
| 7 | ZF Friedrichshafen | Germany | 153,153 | 2025 | |
| 8 | Aptiv | Ireland | 140,000 | 2026 | |
| 9 | Michelin | France | 122,600 | 2025 | |
| 10 | Bridgestone | Japan | 115,716 | 2026 | |
| 11 | Aisin | Japan | 113,292 | 2025 | |
| 12 | Schaeffler | Germany | 109,549 | 2026 | |
| 13 | Forvia | France | 106,513 | 2026 | |
| 14 | Continental | Germany | 92,653 | 2025 | |
| 15 | Aumovio | Germany | 87,000 | 2025 | |
| 16 | Valeo | France | 86,226 | 2026 | |
| 17 | Cummins | United States | 67,400 | 2026 | |
| 18 | Tenneco | United States | 65,000 | 2026 | |
| 19 | Goodyear | United States | 63,000 | 2026 | |
| 20 | Infineon | Germany | 56,500 | 2026 | |
| 21 | HASCO (Huayu Automotive) | China | 54,621 | 2026 | |
| 22 | Hyundai Mobis | South Korea | 51,899 | 2025 | |
| 23 | Pirelli | Italy | 30,749 | 2026 | |
| 24 | OPmobility | France | 28,258 | 2026 | |
| 25 | Knorr-Bremse | Germany | 25,809 | 2026 | |
| 26 | Brembo | Italy | 14,794 | 2026 | |
| 27 | Mobileye | Israel | 4,200 | 2026 |
As of per company: year of the annual report or of the latest lookup (As of column).
Headcount shows an automaker's weight in the real world: plants, regions, livelihoods. The industry's biggest employers are rarely its most efficient, but they carry entire regions. This number reads best next to profit per employee.
Methodology
Consolidated headcount of the reporting group entity, from the latest available fiscal year. Sources: mostly the consolidated financial statements of listed companies, supplemented by public company disclosures. Unlike market capitalization, this view also includes privately held major suppliers such as Bosch, ZF, and Tenneco where a reliable headcount is published. Conglomerates (Xiaomi) and semiconductor groups (Infineon) are shown with the group-level figure, marked with a label.
All information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Financial figures may be delayed, preliminary or contain errors. No guarantee of accuracy, completeness or timeliness. Exchange rates: European Central Bank.
Frequently asked questions
Which automotive supplier has the most employees?
Bosch employs the most people of any automotive supplier, at 413,000 employees, ahead of Sumitomo Electric (302,972) and CATL (185,839). As of reported years 2025/2026.
Where do the employee numbers come from?
The employee figure is the consolidated headcount of the reporting group entity from each company's latest annual report, taken from the consolidated financial statements and public company disclosures. Unlike market capitalization and revenue, this includes privately held suppliers such as Bosch, ZF, and Tenneco where they publish a headcount.
Does this count the whole group?
Yes. The figure is the consolidated headcount of the reporting group entity, regardless of stock market listing. For conglomerates and semiconductor groups the group-level figure is used, marked with a label.