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Japanese Automakers Achieve All-Time High in U.S. Production

5 October 1999

Japanese Automakers Achieve All-Time High in U.S. Production

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 -- Japanese automakers built a record
2.4 million vehicles in their U.S. factories in 1998, a testimony to the
integration of the companies into the fabric of American life, according to
the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).
    "A lot of American cars happen to have Japanese names today -- millions of
cars and trucks made in America by Americans.  A large and growing majority of
American citizens consider these vehicles U.S. products, and they're right,"
said William C. Duncan, General Director, JAMA U.S.A.
    Survey research released today in the brochure, Japan's Auto Companies at
the Millennium: Part of the Fabric of America, indicates that 63 percent of
Americans agree that a car made in America by Americans is a U.S. product,
regardless of the make of the car.  That represents a 21 percent increase over
responses to a similar question asked in 1996.  The data also reveals that 80
percent of Americans believe foreign corporations can become part of American
communities through charitable and civic support.  The survey was conducted
for JAMA by International Communications Research.
    "American workers have built more than 22 million Japanese-brand cars here
in the last 20 years," Duncan said.  "Today those cars are riding down roads
in every corner of America, and many are sold overseas as U.S. exports. With
two new U.S. plants opened last year and two more planned in the near future,
this trend will likely continue into the new millennium."
    Today Japanese manufacturers operate 15 manufacturing plants and 37 R&D
and design centers across the United States, employing more than 300,000
Americans. "Every state has added new jobs because of Japanese automaker
activity," Duncan said.  "But our companies are not just doing business in
America -- they've found homes here.  They've been welcomed into communities,
and they shoulder their responsibility to them -- like every good citizen.
    "They support Little Leagues and school programs, environmental causes,
diversity efforts and much more.  Finding a home in a community requires
caring about the people in it, and our companies do.  That, and the fact that
they build top quality vehicles, is the reason for their success."
    The brochure also provides details of the Japanese automakers' more than
$16 billion investment in the U.S. market since 1986. Japanese manufacturer
purchases of U.S. auto parts, which hit a record high $28.31 billion in 1998,
represent a year-on-year rise of 13 percent.  In addition, the Japanese
automakers' U.S.-based production accounts for more than 45 percent of total
U.S. vehicle exports, excluding exports to Canada.