The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (Chairman: KATAYAMA Masanori) is pleased to announce that at today’s meeting of its Board of Directors, meeting participants adopted a broad framework of priority matters for the upcoming fiscal year (starting April 1, 2026) and designated new leadership for the organization effective from the start of the next calendar year. Details concerning these decisions are summarized here.

1. Priority Matters for the Upcoming Fiscal Year

JAMA’s mission is to “protect and nurture the future of Japanese manufacturing.” In consideration of the intensifying global competitive environment and the accelerating pace of technological transformation, and with a specific focus on improving productivity and strengthening international competitiveness, JAMA has formally established the seven challenges listed below, which are an update of the original seven challenges it had previously identified, as the leading priorities to be pursued by the industry in the upcoming new fiscal year.

Seven Priority Challenges for the Automotive Industry

1. Securing the stable procurement of critical resources and components
2. Implementing a multi-pathway approach to achieving carbon neutrality
3. Building mechanisms for a circular economy
4. Strengthening human resources and their foundational role
5. Creating transportation systems premised on the integration of automated driving
6. Promoting fundamental reform of automobile-related tax systems
7. Enhancing competitiveness across the entire supply chain

2. Next Organizational Leadership

In parallel with its discussions on principal priorities for the next fiscal year, JAMA’s Board of Directors also carefully considered the matter of organizational helmsmanship in that regard. As a result, the Board unanimously resolved that, effective January 1, 2026, JAMA’s corporate chairmanship will be assumed by Toyota Motor Corporation, with Toyota President SATO Koji taking on the role of Chairman of JAMA. Under the new organizational leadership, JAMA will proactively address the seven priority challenges identified above and continue to promote the automotive industry’s sustainable growth and increased global competitiveness through close public-private collaboration.

To view Chairman Katayama’s comments in this regard, click here.

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