U.S. imports of Starter Motors & Dual-Purpose Starter-Generators for Internal Combustion Engines (HS 851140) totaled $115.2M in August 2026, imported from 77 countries.
Importers of Starter Motors & Dual-Purpose Starter-Generators for Internal Combustion Engines paid $9.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.01% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataStarter motors and dual-purpose starter-generator units — which both crank the engine and generate electrical power once running — classify together under a single 10-digit line (8511400000), reflecting their shared ignition-system function. Dual-purpose starter-generators are particularly common in aircraft piston engines and certain industrial equipment, where weight and component count reduction are priorities. Automotive starter motors represent the bulk of import volume in this heading, with Section 301 tariffs applying to Chinese-origin goods and USMCA treatment available for qualifying shipments from Canada or Mexico.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
6.1K import shipments a month
A dual-purpose starter-generator — designed to start the engine and then function as a generator — falls under 8511400000 within the ignition/starting equipment heading. A standalone alternator or generator not designed to start the engine would typically classify under heading 8511 (generators for internal combustion engines, 8511500000) or potentially under heading 8501 depending on its design. The key classification factor is whether the unit is engineered to perform the engine-cranking function.
Remanufactured starter motors are classified the same as new units under 8511400000, but importers must ensure the declared value reflects the actual transaction value of the remanufactured good. Core charges embedded in the invoice price can create valuation complications; CBP guidance on remanufactured goods and core charges should be reviewed, and a customs broker experienced in automotive aftermarket goods is advisable.
ImportsExports
Imports
$115.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$49.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $1.4B of Starter Motors & Dual-Purpose Starter-Generators for Internal Combustion Engines and exported $584.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Japan together supply 54% of it. China pays 27.9% duty; United Kingdom 0.7%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
47.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.01% of imports for consumption.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8511400000 | Starter Motors and Dual Purpose Starter-Generators | $115.6M | 8.01% | 51.95% | $9.3M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8511400000 | Starter Motors and Dual Purpose Starter-Generators | $49.2M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 851140 — Starter Motors & Dual-Purpose Starter-Generators for Internal Combustion Engines, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 2 of 7 in heading 8511
Subheading 851140 · $115.2M of $378.8M