Governor Greg Abbott today met with Toyota Motor Corporation executives and suppliers and toured the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in Nagoya, Japan. This visit marks the fourth day of a three-nation economic development mission to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
“Texas has been the proud home of Toyota manufacturing facilities for over two decades,” said Governor Abbott. “Our partnership with the global powerhouse, Toyota, has played a critical role in strengthening our mighty economy and bringing good-paying jobs to hardworking Texans. It is an honor to be at the Toyota Commemorative Museum to learn more about the history and legacy of the company, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Toyota as we build a more innovative future for both Texas and Japan.”
Governor Abbott's day began at the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, where he met with executives from Toyota. The tour included viewing historic and modern manufacturing equipment along with a showroom of Toyota cars. Following this, Governor Abbott attended a lunch meeting with Toyota executives and top suppliers to discuss further investment opportunities in Texas.
Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the largest automotive manufacturers globally. Its North American headquarters are located in Plano, Texas, employing 6,600 individuals across various departments on a $1 billion campus. Additionally, its San Antonio truck assembly plant employs over 2,600 team members who produced 181,872 vehicles in 2023 within a $3.1 billion facility spanning 2.5 million square feet. In June, Toyota announced a $531 million investment to expand their San Antonio manufacturing facility which will create over 400 jobs.
Later in the day, Governor Abbott met with Aisin President & CEO Moritaka Yoshida along with other Aisin executives to express gratitude for their recent investment in Cibolo through a new manufacturing facility. Discussions also focused on enhancing Texas-Japan relations concerning automotive component development.
Accompanying Governor Abbott were First Lady Cecilia Abbott; Secretary of State Jane Nelson; Executive Director Adriana Cruz from the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office; Board Secretary Adrian Cannady from Texas Economic Development Corporation; President & CEO Aaron Demerson from Texas Economic Development Corporation; among others from the Texas delegation. The trip aims to deepen economic and cultural partnerships between Texas and Japan while encouraging expanded trade in critical industries.
Scheduled events for the fifth day include:
- Luncheon with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
- Meeting with Chief Cabinet Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi
- Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yōko Kamikawa
- Reception at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo
Japan leads all nations regarding job creation by foreign direct investment projects in Texas over the last decade. From 2013 through 2023, Japanese companies invested $10.87 billion across 129 projects creating over 20,000 jobs in Texas. In early 2024 alone, Japanese firms invested $1.47 billion into six additional projects expected to generate more than 520 new jobs.
The trip is sponsored by the Texas Economic Development Corporation—a nonprofit organization responsible for marketing Texas as an ideal business location—and supported by Governor Abbott’s Economic Development & Tourism Office.
