Of course, but automation (really, robotics) has allowed both U.S. and Japanese auto companies, and firms in many other manufacturing industries, to operate plants here profitably (rather than exclusively in China - or Mexico - where the relatively low-cost labor resides). This is the driving force behind the decline in manufacturing employment. As other posters have noted, our manufacturing sectors produces more stuff now than ever; it just does so with fewer workers.
There would be some truth in what you say, but the automation jobs in high tech that result from lost manufacturing jobs have just about ALL gone to immigrants for some strange reason or other.
I also believe that viable US companies using US workers with producer-worthy wages, prove that profits can be had, workers can be paid, without automation, and on this side of the water.