Toyota rejects $10 bln US investment claim in Japan
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Toyota clarifies it did not commit to a new $10 billion US investment, responding to remarks made by Donald Trump during his visit to Japan.
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A man walks by the logo on a Toyota car at a showroom in Tokyo on October 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
During his visit to Japan, US President Donald Trump suggested that Toyota Motor may invest approximately $10 billion in the United States. Speaking on Tuesday evening, Trump said the world’s largest automaker would be looking to commit a sizable investment into the US economy.
Trump’s remarks, delivered during his meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister and first female premier, Sanae Takaichi, came as he continues to champion foreign investment in US manufacturing. On this trip, which also included events at the US Embassy in Tokyo and an address to US service members aboard the USS George Washington, the president urged US citizens to “go out and buy a Toyota," citing the Japanese carmaker’s expected investment.​
However, Toyota quickly clarified its position. Executive Hiroyuki Ueda stated Wednesday that no such explicit commitment had been made, noting, "During the first Trump administration, I think the figure was roughly around $10 billion, so while we didn’t say the same scale, we did explain that we’ll keep investing and providing employment as before. So, probably because of that context, the figure of about $10 billion came up."
Ueda underscored that Toyota had not pledged a new $10 billion investment during recent discussions with the Japanese government or at the US Embassy.​
Toyota’s statements highlight the decades-long relationship between Japanese automakers and the US economy. The company has invested steadily in the US auto sector since opening its first manufacturing facility in the United States in the 1970s, expanding rapidly after establishing its first assembly plant in California in 1984.
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Over the past six decades, Toyota and other Japanese automakers have cumulatively invested more than $53 billion in US manufacturing, supporting over 1.6 million US jobs, and as of early 2025, Toyota’s total US investment stands at approximately $49 billion.​
It is worth noting that between 2017 and 2021, Toyota completed a $13 billion investment plan in the US, adding thousands of jobs, updating plants for hybrid and electric vehicle production, and expanding in states like Texas and Kentucky.
The company continues to invest in US facilities in areas such as hybrid technology, battery plants, and R&D, reflecting its focus on long-term innovation rather than headline financial pledges. Toyota showcased some of these advancements this week at the Japan Mobility Show, where it emphasized new electric and hydrogen models.​
President Trump’s strong statements on economic cooperation, coming just months after Washington and Tokyo reached a new trade agreement reducing tariffs on Japanese cars and boosting US exports, illustrate how trade, investment, and diplomacy are closely linked. However, Toyota’s careful clarification suggests the company wants to avoid being drawn into premature investment promises while continuing to underscore its longstanding contributions to the US auto industry.
