Toyota Drove to the Bank in a Ford

IF the Japanese want to sell cars here, they must build them here, America’s automakers insisted back in the fuel-shocked 70’s.

And build them they did. Detroit’s brake, it turns out, was Japan’s accelerator.

Last week, for the first time, Japanese auto companies said they were now selling more vehicles outside Japan than at home — the bulk in the United States. What’s more, Japan’s biggest automaker, Toyota, upset Ford for second place in the American market in July and reported a huge rise in profits for the quarter. Many analysts predict that Toyota will overtake first-place General Motors in global sales this year.

It’s quite possible that none of this would have happened, Japanese car company officials say, had American executives, politicians and union officials not put pressure on their companies nearly 30 years ago to build factories in the United States. It certainly wouldn’t have happened so fast.


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PlanoA4 - 8/7/2006 3:05:37 PM

0 Boost

D3Wade - Then don't comment

Lexus - 8/7/2006 11:44:03 PM

+1 Boost

It already to late, you cannot change the past but the big three need to focus on improving future product. But it going to be a long..long road if they even going to make it back. Think about, if Toyota, Honda, Nissan continue to make realible product and fuel effiency, people going to buy it. I know Toyota is bring out the new prius for 2008 model I belief which get a 120 mpg, that freakin huge..

More threat on the way for the big three, you have Hyundai and kia from Korea. They been gaining popularity late. To make it worse the Chinese and India are planning to bring their cars and sales it here.

Lexus