By Mayor Tommy Battle, City of Huntsville
In front of hundreds of business executives, development officers, and elected leaders from across the Southeast U.S. attending a premiere international business conference in Toyko last week, Toyota’s senior officer made a statement that quieted the room. Tetsuo Ogawa said the main reason Toyota chose Huntsville as the site for its new Mazda joint venture was because of the company’s long and successful relationship with our community.
If anyone ever wondered why we travel across the world to attend a conference, this is the penultimate explanation. It simply boils down to relationships, just as Mr. Ogawa said.
Our state has been blessed with over 71 Japanese companies that have located in Alabama. These companies have provided thousands of jobs in industries as varied as automotive, finance, and advanced materials.
In the name of strong relationship building, our delegation traveled to Japan to meet our international partners at the 41st annual joint meeting of the Southeast U.S.-Japan and the Japan-Southeast associations, known as SEUS Japan 41. It was the prime opportunity to meet face-to-face with the Toyota executive team. It was also the fifth time our Huntsville executives have met with Toyota in Japan in as many years. While we were solidifying our relations with our old friends from Toyota, this trip offered us the opportunity to start relationships with our new friends at Mazda.
Our conversation centered on the future of the automotive industry. The automotive industry is more than just making cars; it’s about moving people. Toyota is putting a lot of emphasis on hydrogen cell clean energy technology while Mazda is continuing to advance its rotary engine that could change the industry by extending the range cars can travel. Both are innovative companies bringing their strengths together to form one brand: Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing. They are doing that in Huntsville.
Our time in Japan also allowed us the opportunity to visit with the Japanese technology partner of GE Aviation in the development of ceramic matrix composites. NSG Industries is a leader in the development of advanced materials and is based in Toyama. The new materials being developed by these innovative leaders will help the aerospace industry by providing parts that are lighter and stronger. The important material is now being developed in two places in the world: Japan and in Huntsville.
The visit to Japan was also a time to celebrate the many contributions Japanese companies have made in Alabama and the Southeastern region as well. The SEUS Japan 41 theme was success through tradition, innovation