By Alex Willis, Senior Manager of Industry and Public Affairs
A long, hot day, the sizzle of the grill, road trips to visit family and friends, a cold dip in the pool, the pleasing crackle of fireworks as they light up the night sky. At the height of summer, these are the sights and sounds that millions across America enjoy as part of their 4th of July holiday. These are experiences so quintessential that you might say it’s as American as a good old-fashioned road trip, but you could say it’s as American as a Honda, or a Toyota, or a Subaru, or a Nissan.
In fact, this year marks the 43rd anniversary of the very first Japanese-brand automaker to open an assembly plant in the U.S. Over those 43 years, a legacy of commitment and community has been written over and over again in 27 different locations across the U.S. where companies like Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota build their vehicles. These companies have been operating in communities all across America for so long that entire generations of families have passed through the doors of these facilities, their lives and their families’ lives made better for it.
Japanese-brand automakers directly support their investments with a long-term commitment to developing the U.S. workforce. This includes the development of their current employees as well as building robust talent pipelines by supporting education initiatives in ways that also benefit society as a whole. They also work in indirect, and sometimes underappreciated, ways to support a better U.S. business environment. For instance, when Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Alabama opened its doors in 2023, they listened to their employees and found that high-quality childcare was vital for them to feel comfortable in taking on their job responsibilities. In response, Mazda Toyota partnered with Tootris, a cutting-edge childcare service that matches users with high-quality but affordable childcare. The results of the program, especially regarding worker retention and participation, were immediate and impactful.
While Japanese-brand automakers’ dedication to their over 110,000 workers and their families is impressive, it’s not the whole story. Since well before the early 1980s, Japanese-brand automakers have been engaging with community partners and charities and have, to date, donated over $1 billion. This has resulted in a number of longstanding partnerships, including Nissan and Habitat for Humanity, where the company and its employees have, since 2005, assisted 300+ families with a new home and impacting 50+ communities. Similarly, Subaru is the National Parks Service’s (NPS) largest corporate donor, and they have helped NPS implement Subaru’s innovative zero landfill program, which has helped the national parks system divert 22 million pounds of waste from landfills. Utilizing its dealer network, Mitsubishi Motors stays connected with communities around the country through projects like Small Batch, Big Impact. The list goes on and on.
While these automakers’ global headquarters are in Japan, their investments have created high-quality jobs and fulfilling careers for thousands upon thousands of hardworking Americans. This good-quality foreign direct investment has driven 40+ years of manufacturing and 50+ years of research and development and design. Japanese-brand automakers are major employers and contributors to the many U.S. communities they have called home for decades.
Throughout the year, it is a true joy and honor to see how Japanese-brand automakers continue to make an impact, and JAMA USA applauds its members’ dedication to their community partners, workers, and customers. So, on July 4th while we’re all celebrating, let’s give a nod to those companies that have made a home here in the U.S. and are more American than ever.