Georgia’s auto-related industries still strong

Georgia may have been in the slow lane when it came to landing foreign automakers looking to plant the Japanese, Korean and German flags in the Southeast. And consolidation cost the Peach State the GM plant in Doraville last year and Hapeville Ford factory in 2006.

Despite the setbacks, Georgia’s auto-related industry is still robust — a $1.2 billion Kia plant is slated to open in West Point in November — and more importantly, growing. How it shapes up:

23,000: Number of people employed in vehicle-related industries.

306: Number of auto- and vehicle-related companies with Georgia operations.

6: Number of auto-related distribution centers in Georgia — Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, Johnson Industries, Robert Bosch, Pep Boys and Hella.

5: Number of automakers whose North American headquarters companies are in metro Atlanta — Porsche, Lotus, BBS, Hella and Daweoo.

2: Number of specialty automotive builders — Braselton-based Panoz Motor Sports Group, a leading maker of limited production, high performance vehicles and Blue Bird Corp., the world’s largest maker of school buses and headquartered in Fort Valley.

1: Atlanta-based Genuine Parts Co. has the world’s largest after market distribution network.

Source: Georgia Department of Economic Development