American-made Careers
In modern manufacturing, access to a reliable, well-rounded, and well-prepared workforce is a continuing challenge, and for decades now Japanese-brand automakers have been a part of the solution. Whether it’s support for their current workers to go back to school or going into local schools to help build excitement for STEM, Japanese-brand automakers have been leaders in developing the U.S. automotive workforce. Today, our members employ thousands of hard-working Americans, built on generations of effort, and Japanese-brand automakers are committed to ensuring many more get the opportunity for an America-Made Career.
K-12 Education and Support
Mazda
Mazda continues to support its College Track program, which aims to equip students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, and power. At the core of College Track’s program model is the 10-year commitment they make to each student, from ninth grade through college graduation. The Mazda Foundation’s funding supports programming at College Track’s Los Angeles area program centers, located in Watts, Boyle Heights, and Crenshaw.
Toyota
Toyota brings its renowned Driving Possibilities program to Nevada with a $5.8 million grant to help support Clark County students prepare for the STEM jobs of today and tomorrow.
Honda
In October 2023, Honda hosted Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) activities for students and teachers at nine of its U.S. production facilities, highlighting a remarkably broad array of exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing whether at Honda, within the company's supplier network or at other manufacturing companies across America. Honda's MFG Day events included more than 1,600 students from 40 different schools in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas.
Toyota
The Toyota 4T Academy is a national high school pathway program designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with an innovative education experience, pairing hands-on learning with on-the-job training at Toyota. The program originally started in Indiana in 2020, later expanding to West Virginia. In 2023, Toyota brough its 4T Academy to Mississippi, further expanding an important program for developing the local workforce.
Nissan
In February 2023, Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country as part of the annual Nissan Ready program. The Nissan Ready program, which first began in 2014, is an initiative in partnership with 100 Black Men of America that works to educate and inspire students through interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations, and building camaraderie.
Mazda
Since 2021, Mazda and FUSE have worked together to bring critical STEM education support to students and teachers across southern California. By the end of 2026, Mazda-sponsored and designed lab work will be in 26 different schools. These labs help students gain familiarity with automotive safety, vehicle design, 3D printing, and auto CAD. These kinds of programs are essential to encouraging and nurturing the engineers of tomorrow.
Subaru
In September 2023, Subaru announced that as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative it would adopt all classrooms at high schools on the Camden High Campus. Subaru will also support the development of a graphic arts lab at Eastside High School with funding and materials donations, allowing the students to learn valuable technical skills and concurrently serve as a revenue generator for Eastside by creating branded gear for the school store. This new lab further enhances a grant from the Subaru of America Foundation to support career and technical efforts (CTE), partnership with 12Plus, that connects students to a range of meaningful workforce development opportunities.
Mazda
Mazda continues to support its College Track program, which aims to equip students confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, and power. At the core of College Track’s program model is the 10-year commitment they make to each student, from ninth grade through college graduation. The Mazda Foundation’s funding supports programming at College Track’s Los Angeles area program centers, located in Watts, Boyle Heights, and Crenshaw.
Toyota
Toyota brings its renowned Driving Possibilities program to Nevada with a $5.8 million grant to help support Clark County students prepare for the STEM jobs of today and tomorrow.
Honda
In October 2023, Honda hosted Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) activities for students and teachers at nine of its U.S. production facilities, highlighting a remarkably broad array of exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing whether at Honda, within the company's supplier network or at other manufacturing companies across America. Honda's MFG Day events included more than 1,600 students from 40 different schools in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas.
Honda
In October 2023, Honda hosted Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) activities for students and teachers at nine of its U.S. production facilities, highlighting a remarkably broad array of exciting career opportunities in modern manufacturing whether at Honda, within the company's supplier network or at other manufacturing companies across America. Honda's MFG Day events included more than 1,600 students from 40 different schools in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio and the Carolinas.
Toyota
The Toyota 4T Academy is a national high school pathway program designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with an innovative education experience, pairing hands-on learning with on-the-job training at Toyota. The program originally started in Indiana in 2020, later expanding to West Virginia. In 2023, Toyota brough its 4T Academy to Mississippi, further expanding an important program for developing the local workforce.
Nissan
In February 2023, Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country as part of the annual Nissan Ready program. The Nissan Ready program, which first began in 2014, is an initiative in partnership with 100 Black Men of America that works to educate and inspire students through interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations, and building camaraderie.
Mazda
Since 2021, Mazda and FUSE have worked together to bring critical STEM education support to students and teachers across southern California. By the end of 2026, Mazda-sponsored and designed lab work will be in 26 different schools. These labs help students gain familiarity with automotive safety, vehicle design, 3D printing, and auto CAD. These kinds of programs are essential to encouraging and nurturing the engineers of tomorrow.
Subaru
In September 2023, Subaru announced that as part of its Subaru Loves Learning initiative it would adopt all classrooms at high schools on the Camden High Campus. Subaru will also support the development of a graphic arts lab at Eastside High School with funding and materials donations, allowing the students to learn valuable technical skills and concurrently serve as a revenue generator for Eastside by creating branded gear for the school store. This new lab further enhances a grant from the Subaru of America Foundation to support career and technical efforts (CTE), partnership with 12Plus, that connects students to a range of meaningful workforce development opportunities.
Community College and Technical Training
Nissan
Nissan and Tennessee’s Franklin County School district collaborate on a new dual enrollment program granting students work experience and college credit.
Mazda-Toyota
The “Leading Industry Growth by Helping Teachers” (LIGHT) program pairs industry leading instruction with Northern Alabama schools to deliver work ready talent and build careers.
Honda
For over ten years, Honda and Columbus State Community College have maintained a robust work-study program. The program allows students to gain real world experience at one of Honda’s facilities while completing their education. This kind of “earn and learn” program is vital for many and has already paid dividends for Honda. Today, one of the very first students to go through the program is helping lead Honda’s BEV transition.
Mazda
The Mazda Foundation supports the Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Program, which helps fund paid internships and auto mechanic training for people with multiple barriers to employment, including those recently released from prison.
Subaru
The Advanced Manufacturing Maintenance Training (AMMT) Program at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) is a two year program that combines 26 weeks of classes at Vincennes University with on-the-job training. The program covers a number of areas vital to modern manufacturing including electrical, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), mechatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and print reading.
Toyota
The Toyota Technician & Education Network (T-TEN) has been an industry-leading automotive technician training program since 1986. During that time over 23,000 certified technicians have been placed in rewarding careers in dealerships across the country. The program offers new recruits’ tuition-free training at a state-of-the-art facility, balancing classroom learning with hands-on diagnostic and repair work to help smooth the transition to a career in a dealership’s service department.
Nissan
Nissan and Tennessee’s Franklin County School district collaborate on a new dual enrollment program granting students work experience and college credit.
Mazda-Toyota
The “Leading Industry Growth by Helping Teachers” (LIGHT) program pairs industry leading instruction with Northern Alabama schools to deliver work ready talent and build careers.
Nissan
Nissan and Tennessee’s Franklin County School district collaborate on a new dual enrollment program granting students work experience and college credit.
Honda
For over ten years, Honda and Columbus State Community College have maintained a robust work-study program. The program allows students to gain real world experience at one of Honda’s facilities while completing their education. This kind of “earn and learn” program is vital for many and has already paid dividends for Honda. Today, one of the very first students to go through the program is helping lead Honda’s BEV transition.
Mazda
The Mazda Foundation supports the Vehicles for Change’s Full Circle Auto Repair and Training Program, which helps fund paid internships and auto mechanic training for people with multiple barriers to employment, including those recently released from prison.
Subaru
The Advanced Manufacturing Maintenance Training (AMMT) Program at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) is a two year program that combines 26 weeks of classes at Vincennes University with on-the-job training. The program covers a number of areas vital to modern manufacturing including electrical, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), mechatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and print reading.
Toyota
The Toyota Technician & Education Network (T-TEN) has been an industry-leading automotive technician training program since 1986. During that time over 23,000 certified technicians have been placed in rewarding careers in dealerships across the country. The program offers new recruits’ tuition-free training at a state-of-the-art facility, balancing classroom learning with hands-on diagnostic and repair work to help smooth the transition to a career in a dealership’s service department.
4-year Universities and Beyond
Honda
Honda and the Ohio State University launched a new undergraduate certificate program in spring of 2025 with the goal of building career ready skills and driving interest in the automotive industry.
Nissan
Starting in 2017, Nissan has worked closely with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), where it has sent employees to train and served on the advisory board of the schools programs. Then, in 2024, Nissan and TCAT deepened this partnership, and today, Nissan-trained instructors can be found in TCAT classrooms teaching industrial electrical maintenance. This allows all TCAT students to have access to high-quality and industry-ready training and allows Nissan to nurture a larger talent pool of current and future employees. A win-win.
Honda
Honda and Ohio State University have had a formal partnership since 2000, but have long worked together with much of the effort centered on cooperation around the use of the Transportation Research Center (TRC). Over the years, the relationship has grown to cover many areas including a unique capstone project for Ohio State engineering students. Through the program students are encouraged to push boundaries and deliver new designs and products in a real world setting.
Toyota
Since 1994, Toyota and the University of Kentucky (UK) partnered to create True LEAN, a Toyota sponsored program that teaches students how to operate within and utilize the Toyota Production System (TPS). Housed in the UK College of Engineering, True Lean maintains an ongoing relationship with Toyota including a Toyota Executive-in-Residence. True Lean provides on-campus or onsite sessions and coaching. On-campus sessions include instruction in a specially designed lab, and a leadership session includes a Toyota walking tour.
Nissan
In January 2022, Nissan and Vanderbilt University launched the Vanderbilt-Nissan Collaboration Accelerator. This program is designed to fuel a talent pipeline and identify opportunities for research and innovation between Nissan and the university. As part of this partnership, in 2023, Nissan worked with students and tasked them with creating an ideal customer journey for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. The groups pitched ideas ranging from installing portable chargers in the electric cars, to installing software to provide EV drivers with entertainment, such as tv shows and games while they charge up.
Honda
Honda and the Ohio State University launched a new undergraduate certificate program in spring of 2025 with the goal of building career ready skills and driving interest in the automotive industry.
Nissan
Starting in 2017, Nissan has worked closely with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), where it has sent employees to train and served on the advisory board of the schools programs. Then, in 2024, Nissan and TCAT deepened this partnership, and today, Nissan-trained instructors can be found in TCAT classrooms teaching industrial electrical maintenance. This allows all TCAT students to have access to high-quality and industry-ready training and allows Nissan to nurture a larger talent pool of current and future employees. A win-win.
Honda
Honda and Ohio State University have had a formal partnership since 2000, but have long worked together with much of the effort centered on cooperation around the use of the Transportation Research Center (TRC). Over the years, the relationship has grown to cover many areas including a unique capstone project for Ohio State engineering students. Through the program students are encouraged to push boundaries and deliver new designs and products in a real world setting.
Toyota
Since 1994, Toyota and the University of Kentucky (UK) partnered to create True LEAN, a Toyota sponsored program that teaches students how to operate within and utilize the Toyota Production System (TPS). Housed in the UK College of Engineering, True Lean maintains an ongoing relationship with Toyota including a Toyota Executive-in-Residence. True Lean provides on-campus or onsite sessions and coaching. On-campus sessions include instruction in a specially designed lab, and a leadership session includes a Toyota walking tour.
Nissan
In January 2022, Nissan and Vanderbilt University launched the Vanderbilt-Nissan Collaboration Accelerator. This program is designed to fuel a talent pipeline and identify opportunities for research and innovation between Nissan and the university. As part of this partnership, in 2023, Nissan worked with students and tasked them with creating an ideal customer journey for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. The groups pitched ideas ranging from installing portable chargers in the electric cars, to installing software to provide EV drivers with entertainment, such as tv shows and games while they charge up.