As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Japan’s automakers are proud to celebrate a milestone of our own. This year marks 50 years of engagement in Washington D.C. through the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Anniversaries provide an opportunity not only to reflect on the past but also to consider the future. As we mark this milestone, we deeply appreciate the American workers, communities, customers, suppliers, dealers and policymakers who enabled us to continue our business for 50 years. They welcomed our member companies, partnered with us and helped us grow.
The 50th anniversary of JAMA USA is a shared achievement with them, one that has allowed Japanese-brand automakers to become deeply rooted in the United States and proudly call America home.
JAMA members first entered the U.S. market through vehicle sales and, beginning in the 1980s, established major manufacturing operations. As North America became more deeply integrated over the next decade, a unified market and interconnected production platform emerged. That integration enabled JAMA members to deepen their roots in the U.S. by expanding manufacturing capacity, investing in R&D facilities, growing supplier networks and supporting high-quality jobs across the region.
That history of integration reinforced a commitment spanning five decades and Japanese-brand automakers were able to contribute to the growth of the world’s most dynamic auto market.
Today, that partnership is stronger than ever. The United States is home to extensive manufacturing, R&D and supply-chain investments by Japanese-brand automakers. JAMA members have invested more than $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing across 26 factories, as well as more than $4.7 billion in capital investments in over 40 R&D and design facilities. Together with 65 distribution centers, these operations span 27 states. JAMA members continue to reinvest in existing facilities while breaking ground on new ones.
In 2025 alone, JAMA members produced over 3.1 million vehicles in the U.S., accounting for nearly one-third of all vehicles produced domestically. Japanese-brand automakers directly employ more than 108,000 Americans and, together with dealer partners and indirect and spin-off employment, support nearly 2.4 million American jobs. They also work with thousands of suppliers across the country. These investments strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity from coast to coast.
This expansion is part of today’s integrated automotive industry built upon the efforts of both the U.S. and Japan. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement also plays an important role, allowing vehicles, parts, capital, technology and expertise to move efficiently across the region. It strengthens competitiveness, supports innovation, improves supply chain resilience, and delivers greater value to consumers. Continuing the USMCA is therefore essential to strengthening U.S. production and employment, expanding opportunities for workers and suppliers, supporting next-generation manufacturing, and preserving North America’s advantage as global competition intensifies.
Maintaining this advantage will be critical as the automotive industry navigates rapid change. Electrification, artificial intelligence, new technologies and geopolitical disruptions are transforming how vehicles are designed, built, sold and driven. The pace of change is unlike anything our industry has experienced before. Leaning into trusted partnerships will help turn these challenges into opportunities. In fact, I am confident that, going forward, by combining U.S.’s advanced AI leadership and capabilities with Japan’s manufacturing expertise, America’s automotive manufacturing sector will become even more competitive.
Throughout these changes, one thing has remained constant: JAMA members’ commitment to America. Japanese-brand automakers do not view the U.S. simply as a market, but as a long-term partner, an innovation ecosystem and an export hub. This commitment is not only to invest in factories and facilities, but also to support the people, communities, and relationships built over generations. Our mission is to continue delivering innovative products that customers value and trust, contributing to U.S. economic growth, and creating opportunity through meaningful engagement with people and families across America.
That is why JAMA’s 50th anniversary is about more than our presence in Washington, D.C. It celebrates a partnership that has created shared value for the United States and Japan, showing what businesses, workers, communities and governments can achieve when they work together toward common goals.
As America celebrates 250 years of innovation, enterprise and opportunity, we are grateful for the trust and partnership that have helped make our own 50-year journey possible. Now, with the automotive industry entering a new era of transformation, Japanese-brand automakers remain committed to investing, innovating and building the future together with the American people.
Koji Sato is chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and chief industry officer for Toyota Motor Corp.
This guest commentary originally appeared in Automotive News. Please view the original Here.