Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chairman, appeared at a U.S.-themed NASCAR exhibition at Fuji Speedway wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat and a Trump–Vance shirt. The appearance came two days before Toyota announced a $912 million plan to expand hybrid production at five U.S. plants, as Toyoda stressed that any tariff policies should ultimately benefit customers.
Over the weekend at Fuji Speedway, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda donned a red MAGA cap and a Trump–Vance T‑shirt during a NASCAR demonstration held alongside Japan’s Super Taikyu finale. U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass attended and posted “Start your engines!” with photos from the track. Road & Track and Japanese media documented Toyoda’s attire and the ambassador’s presence.
The event featured six NASCAR machines and star drivers including Jimmie Johnson, John Hunter Nemechek and Kamui Kobayashi; Toyoda led a parade lap in a Ford F‑150 with Ambassador Glass riding shotgun.
Ahead of the exhibition, Toyoda told reporters he wasn’t “here to argue whether tariffs are good or bad,” adding that national leaders aim to protect domestic industry and that Toyota wants “our customers” to be the ultimate winners. Those remarks were reported by Automotive News and cited by Road & Track.
Context: It is the United States, not Japan, that recently adjusted auto tariffs tied to bilateral talks. In mid‑September, the U.S. lowered tariffs on most Japanese autos and parts to a unified 15% rate via executive action; Japan’s MFN tariff on imported passenger cars remains 0%.
A pro‑Trump account associated with the former president’s campaign (“Trump War Room”) amplified images of Toyoda’s outfit after the event.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Toyota announced a $912 million investment to expand hybrid capacity across five U.S. plants—in West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri—including first‑time U.S. assembly of the Corolla Hybrid. The company said the plan will add 252 jobs. “Customers are embracing Toyota’s hybrid vehicles … by adding more American jobs and investing across our U.S. footprint, we continue to stay true to that philosophy,” said Kevin Voelkel, senior vice president of manufacturing operations.
The week prior, on Nov. 13, Toyota confirmed an additional U.S. investment plan of up to $10 billion over five years, coinciding with the opening of its North Carolina battery plant. That formal announcement followed October comments by President Donald Trump suggesting Toyota would invest that amount; at the time, Toyota executives said no explicit $10 billion pledge had been made, before later confirming the plan.
Toyota’s push comes as demand for hybrids climbs. Trade outlets, citing Motor Intelligence data, report Toyota controls just over 51% of U.S. hybrid sales through the third quarter of 2025.
Note: George E. Glass has served as U.S. ambassador to Japan since April 2025, succeeding Rahm Emanuel.
