Toyota shuts down false Trump claim

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00:00Toyota shuts down false Trump claim.

00:03A top Toyota executive has corrected remarks made by President Donald Trump,

00:08who claimed that the automaker had pledged to invest $10 billion in new U.S. auto plants.

00:13While emphasizing Toyota's ongoing commitment to American manufacturing,

00:17the company stated that no specific figure was promised.

00:21Speaking to reporters at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo,

00:24Toyota executive Hiroyuki Ueda suggested Trump's number referred two investments made during his first term in office.

00:32During the first Trump administration, I think the figure was roughly around $10 billion.

00:37So while we didn't say the same scale,

00:40we did explain that we'll keep investing and providing employment as before, Ueda said, according to Reuters.

00:46So, probably because of that context, the figure of about $10 billion came up.

00:51Therefore, we didn't specifically say that we'll invest $10 billion over the next few years.

00:57Toyota later issued a statement reiterating its commitment to U.S. business without citing a new dollar amount.

01:04Toyota remains committed to continued investment in its U.S. operations,

01:08reflecting our principle to build where we sell and buy where we build, the statement read.

01:13With nearly $50 billion already invested and 49,000 direct employees across the United States,

01:20this ongoing commitment strengthens our support for American manufacturing, supply chains, jobs and customers.

01:26More details will follow soon.

01:28Trump made the investment claim while addressing U.S. service members aboard the USS George Washington at Japan's Yokosuka Naval Base.

01:35I was just told by the prime minister that Toyota is going to be putting auto plants all over the United States to the tune of over $10 billion,

01:43he said, adding to applause, go out and buy a Toyota.

01:47The president linked the supposed investment to renewed economic activity under his leadership.

01:53We have so many things happening in the United States, Trump said.

01:57And it's because of the November 5th election day, but it's also because of tariffs.

02:02The New York Times reported that the Trump White House also issued a memo claiming Toyota would begin exporting cars made in the U.S. to Japan,

02:10though the automaker later clarified it was only considering such a move.