With the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit underway this week, it is important to remember just why Japanese-brand automakers continue to ‘select’ the United States as an automotive production center.

Whether it be through the expansion of existing facilities, new investments, or further advancement of innovation through R&D investments, Japanese-brand automakers are steadfastly committed to continuing these efforts into the future.

Japanese-brand automakers have long recognized the enormous value of a highly skilled workforce that can adapt and grow in this constantly changing industry. As the need for talent has increased over the years, and the industry continues to face workforce availability challenges, Japanese-brand automakers are deepening their commitment to develop talent throughout the workforce pipeline.

JAMA member companies’ long and deep engagement in the U.S. market, workforce, and communities strengthen the foundation of U.S. and Japan’s economic partnership and by doing so also allows the overall relationship between these two great nations to endure and flourish.

Even as technology advances, and things become increasingly complex, it’s still the people that make it all work.