In the US, the automotive industry remains the largest in the world. According to the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), the industry represents nearly 10% of the $10,000bn US economy. The Center for Automotive Research reports that in 2002, 12.3 million vehicles were produced in the US, compared with 10.2 million vehicles in Japan and 5.5 million in Germany. About 6.6 million US jobs are connected to automotive manufacturing, and new vehicle sales generate more than $240bn in annual private sector revenue. Consequently, site selection for a new plant is huge business.