Dec 14, 2011

Seven out of 10 Japanese cars made in U.S., Canada

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY Updated 35m ago

More than 407,000 jobs in the U.S. are due to Japanese automakers and their dealers, reports the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association. And nowadays, Japanese makers are producing most of the cars they sell in America in North America -- 68% altogether.

Those are a couple of the statistics out of a new JAMA report being issued this week. Though it is based on 2010 production, it still has its share of surprises. For instance, exported vehicles from Japanese plants in the U.S. last year increased to more than 145,000, up from 94,000 in 2009. With a strong yen today, the trend continues.

The vast majority of Japanese employees are those working at auto dealerships. But Japanese makers now have 29 plants in the U.S. employing more than 50,000. Japanese makers have invested more than $34 billion in the U.S. And one of the benefits has been to become a leader in "green" vehicles, such as Toyota and its Prius and other hybrids.

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