Announcing a rare consolidation of major trade associations, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry President & CEO Bradley Jackson announced a comprehensive strategic partnership with the Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association (TAMA) aimed to significantly increase and enhance services for automotive manufacturing across the state. The effort will leverage the statewide presence, strength, and association management experience of the Tennessee Chamber to enhance the mission of TAMA primarily for educational events, networking, and member communication and services.
According to the Brookings Institute, Tennessee ranks as the #1 state for automotive manufacturing strength, employing over 123,000 Tennesseans and totaling over $4.8 billion in automotive exports in 2019. In recent years, Volkswagen, Nissan and GM have made billion dollar announcements to build electric vehicles and expand production of cells and battery packs in Tennessee, with other supply chain manufacturers announcing moves to the Volunteer state. Thanks to a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee drivers will benefit from a statewide EV charging network with the capacity to support 200,000 EVs on Tennessee roads by 2028.
The extensive agreement, negotiated over a year, will establish Board of Director appointments to both TAMA and the Tennessee Chamber as well as an operational partnership framework.
Tennessee Chamber President & CEO Bradley Jackson noted, “We thank TAMA for this tremendous partnership and opportunity to enhance automotive manufacturing here in
Tennessee. Automotive manufacturing has become a cornerstone of Tennessee’s economy and is absolutely vital to our economic growth and success as a state.”
This new structure will allow TAMA to continue as a non-profit association while utilizing the significant infrastructure of the Tennessee Chamber to enhance and grow their operations.
TAMA President Dan Davidson noted, “This partnership will allow TAMA to enhance and expand our work and services to advocate for automotive manufacturing in Tennessee building on the great work we started in 1987. We have maintained a great relationship with the Tennessee Chamber as our State Manufacturing Association and believe partnering with such a significant organization will help us both to strengthen automotive manufacturing in the Volunteer State.”