Through its core activity of planning, drafting and promoting policies for the automobile industry, JAMA has, since its inception, contributed to the sound development of Japan's automobile industry and to the nation's economic growth.

JMIF has also promoted the development of the automotive industry by acting as its public relations mouthpiece in a wide range of activities focusing on the interface with vehicle users and society, including the organization of the Tokyo Motor Show, industry-consumer dialogues and the operation of an automobile library.

In recent years there has been a significant shift in value perception in terms of social needs, and motorized society is itself in the process of reaching full maturity. With the rapid evolution towards a borderless automotive industry, and in view of the many issues and challenges facing the industry on a worldwide scale--including global warming, fuel economy, recycling, vehicle safety and vehicles for the elderly and disabled, there is a recognized need for the two organizations to bring together the policy-proposing functions of JAMA and the information acquisition and diffusion functions of JMIF, rather than continue to act separately on their own. Such a merging of functions will provide a more effective platform, from a more global viewpoint, for increased communication between the automotive industry, vehicle users and the public at large, as well as increased cooperation with industry organizations worldwide with respect to the future role of automobiles and their sound coexistence with society.

For these reasons JAMA and JMIF have decided to integrate their functions and roles into a single organization. In that capacity, they look forward to making important contributions to public welfare through the promotion of a mobility-based society that will be the hallmark of the 21st century.

(1) Enhanced impact of the Tokyo Motor Show

Keeping intact the principle that the motor show has to delight the visitor, the event nevertheless must also serve as a platform for conveying to the public the views of the automobile industry on all relevant issues, advancing a fuller and better understanding among vehicle users while, at the same time, capturing the opinions and ideas of the public. In today's fast-globalizing world, the Tokyo Motor Show provides an opportunity for meeting the top representatives of industry organizations worldwide and for expanding international exchange and communication in an overall commitment to improved quality.

(2) More efficient information acquisition and dissemination

Expanding the functions of JMIF's automobile library as a unique, specialized library and integrating JAMA's extensive documentation and diverse publications, covering a broad range of topical analysis and statistical data, will harness the two organizations' information capabilities to a "knowledge base" for the industry that will offer users a more convenient service and help prevent the loss of documents. The amalgamation of the JAMA and JMIF Web sites will help to increase interactive communication between the automobile industry, vehicle users and the public at large.

(3) Rationalized operations for greater efficiency

Reviewing existing activities, streamlining and integrating overlapping organizational operations such as accounting, general affairs administration and the management of human resources, and simplifying committee organization and departmental structure will significantly improve operational efficiency as well as mitigate the burden on member companies.