Al.com reports that Governor Kay Ivey met with officials from Toyota, Mazda and Honda last week. She was a part of discussions with Mazda and Toyota executives in the run-up to construction for the $1.6 billion joint manufacturing plant.
The governor also spoke with Honda about the plant's $85 million expansion along with other issues.
The trip's purpose was to strengthen the relationship with Alabama's automakers and briefings on Japan's business climate and trade developments. The group, which also included Huntsville mayor Tommy Battle, met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo.
Mazda and Toyota announced their intention to build a joint manufacturing plant in Huntsville in January.