AIADA Responds to Kerry Comments Devaluing Thousands of Auto Jobs in MI, OH, WV
Presidential Candidate Suggests Only Detroit Three Automobiles Manufactured by United Auto Workers Should be Sold in U.S.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 23 -- The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today responded to comments made by presidential candidate John Kerry, after the Massachusetts Senator yesterday kicked off a jobs tour by suggesting he didn't want international nameplate automobiles to be sold in the U.S. International nameplate automobile manufacturing facilities employ over 65,000 U.S. autoworkers, including thousands in the states Kerry will be visiting next week. America's international nameplate auto dealerships create 500,000 jobs.
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"America's international nameplate auto industry has been and continues to be a driving force in the U.S. economy. The fact that John Kerry seems to be entirely unaware that international nameplates facilitate tens of thousands of high-paying jobs for U.S. autoworkers is very, very troubling," commented AIADA Chairman Buzz Rodland. "John Kerry's comments are an insult not only to the tens of thousands of taxpayers who earn a paycheck as a result of investments from international nameplate automobile manufacturers, but also to the millions of Americans whose transportation needs are met with our products."
In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Kerry devalued thousands of manufacturing jobs facilitated by U.S.-based international nameplate automobile manufacturers. According to USA Today, Kerry said: "I don't want Toyota and Honda to be the seller of these cars. I want the cars made in Michigan." According to an AP report, Kerry said: "I want cars to be made in Michigan, made in America, made [by the United Auto Workers]."
Honda Motor Company
Honda directly facilitates 24,000 U.S. jobs; it employs 16,000 American autoworkers in five U.S.-based manufacturing facilities, four of which are in Ohio, a key presidential battleground state:
-- Marysville, Ohio - Honda has made capital investments of $2.3 billion
in this plant which produces 440,000 Accords and Acuras and employs
5,850 Ohio autoworkers.
-- East Liberty, Ohio - Honda's capital investments here total nearly
$8 billion; the plant produces 240,000 Civics and Elements per year
and employs 2,550 Ohio autoworkers.
-- Anna, Ohio - Honda's capital investments here total $1.1 billion; the
plant produces 1.16 million Honda and Acura engines and drive train
components and employs 2,650 Ohio autoworkers.
-- Russells Point, Ohio - Honda's capital investments here total over $110
million; the plant produces nearly a million Honda and Acura
transmissions and employs 930 Ohio autoworkers.
Additionally, Honda's U.S. operations indirectly facilitate tens of thousands of jobs among the 440 U.S. suppliers it contracts with. Honda purchases more than $11 billion per year in parts and components from its U.S. suppliers. Honda dealerships facilitate more than 100,000 jobs in 50 states.
Toyota Motor Company
In addition to the tens of thousands of jobs Toyota facilitates among U.S. suppliers and dealerships, Toyota directly employs 16,949 American autoworkers in seven U.S.-based manufacturing facilities, including a manufacturing plant in the political battleground state of West Virginia. Toyota also has a major R&D facility in Michigan.
-- Buffalo, West Virginia - Toyota's capital investments here total $758
million; the plant produces one million engines and transmissions and
employs 768 West Virginia autoworkers.
-- Ann Arbor, Michigan - Toyota's U.S. Research and Development operations
facilitate 684 jobs, the bulk of which are based in Michigan.
The U.S. is currently home to 22 international nameplate manufacturing facilities - with two more on the way - which employ 65,073 U.S. autoworkers. International nameplate manufacturers have made $28.6 billion in capital investments in the U.S. In addition to Honda and Toyota, international nameplates with U.S.-based manufacturing facilities include: BMW, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Subaru/Isuzu.
"John Kerry's suggestion that international nameplate automobiles should not be sold in the U.S. represents a disappointing new low in his devolution from free trader to economic isolationist," said AIADA president Marianne McInerney. "John Kerry displayed a disturbing level of naivety on the vital economic contributions international nameplate automobiles make to the U.S. economy. His credibility on job creation has taken a giant leap backward."
About AIADA:
Founded in 1970, AIADA represents the 10,000 American automobile dealerships that sell and service international nameplate brands including Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and in the local communities they serve, providing nearly 500,000 American jobs. Visit AIADA online at www.aiada.org.
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