A few months ago a mechanic I know was working on a Cayenne with a transmission problem. It needed a part that Porsche did not have, so Porsche said to buy it from a Lexus dealer.

Now, about the 997 transmission....

 

The 997 manual transmissions are manufactured in Japan by Aisin AI.
Here is their press release in September 2004. It should have been finished off better saying this is our first manual transmission (MT) for Porsche.

September 16, 2004
First transaction with Porsche, Aisin AI started to deliver the 6-speed MT for 911 CARRERA

Details
Aisin AI Co.,Ltd. (home office: Nishio City, Aichi, president: Masahiro Suo) received an order and started to delivery the MT that are for Porsche 911 CARRERA and this is our first transaction with Porsche.

http://www.aisin-ai.co.jp/english/news/040916.html
http://www.aisin.com/news/products/05100401.html

Ciao,
Adrian.

 

And another....

 

Here is proof positive.
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-forum/316407-997-tranny-made-in-japan-what-do-you-think.html
Somebody posts in this thread that the 996 transmission is also made in Japan.
This is false, the 996 uses a Getrag 6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic which are both made in Germany. I cannot guarantee that all the internal parts are though. Getrag have factories all over the world supplying many different brands and I am sure some of the parts are common to some or all of these transmissions.
Ciao,
Adrian.

 

I agree with the general Japanese make great cars these days theme. So does my wife, and it's turned into a joke in our house. I usually come home from work in the 996 and declare that "my car loves me" since, well, it does!

She drives a Lexus, and her usual reponse nowadays is, "Bah! German trash!"

Next I ask if that means the next Porsche isn't her Tip Boxster, but is instead my 911SC track car... hehe (keeping the 996 of course! I need garage space...)