South African-born Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen was all-American in his opening keynote speech at the 2015 Washington Auto Show, calling the 112-year-old domestic brand a "fitting" company with which to launch the exhibition focused on domestic production and entrepreneurialism.

"This is a great country to build great cars," de Nysschen said. As for the General Motors luxury brand, which once led its class but has struggled to regain footing, "the weather forecast for Cadillac has turned positive," de Nysschen told the audience on Thursday morning, ahead of the launch of the CT6 sedan this spring.

This year's auto show built on 2014's sustainability theme by emphasizing long-term environmentally friendly policy as well as increased fuel efficiency in new models.

The American auto industry comprises 1.5 million jobs, including carmakers, suppliers and dealers, with each auto-related job supporting an estimated 6.6 employees in other industries, Kim Hill of the Center for Automotive Research said Thursday.

Beyond General Motors, other automakers were eager to speak about their American credentials. When it comes to products sold in the United States, Nissan is now on the cusp of 85 percent of those products being manufactured in North America. Ford showed its entirely redone F-150 stood as an example of American innovation in engineering.

Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the 2015 Washington Auto Show runs through Feb. 1. 

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