Changes

It is often difficult to tell if a car is a domestically or foreign produced vehicle simply by the name of the manufacturer.  For example, in 2006 Japan-based manufacturer Toyota had 14 manufacturing plants in North America producing parts and cars such as the Camry, while American manufacture [[General Motors]] has operations in [[Mexico]] producing trucks such as the Silverado and Suburban for export to the United States.

It is often difficult to tell if a car is a domestically or foreign produced vehicle simply by the name of the manufacturer.  For example, in 2006 Japan-based manufacturer Toyota had 14 manufacturing plants in North America producing parts and cars such as the Camry, while American manufacture [[General Motors]] has operations in [[Mexico]] producing trucks such as the Silverado and Suburban for export to the United States.

Major car companies include Ford, General Motors(or GM), [[Chrysler]], [[Toyota]], [[Nissan]], [[Honda]], [[Mazda]], [[BMW]], [[Mercedes-Benz]]. Major American based manufacturers include [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[General Motors]], produce several brands such as [[Ford Mercury|Mercury]], [[Lincoln (car)|Lincoln]], [[Chevrolet]], and [[Hummer]], however these often have many of the same "platforms" or basic car components.

The "Big Three" American makers are Ford, General Motors (GM), and [[Chrysler]]. Japanese companies include [[Toyota]], [[Nissan]], [[Honda]], [[Mazda]], [[Suzuki]],  and [[Subaru]]. The German companies include [[BMW]], [[Mercedes-Benz]], and [[Volkswagen]]. [[Fiat]] is based in Italy, and [[PSA Peugeot Citroën]] and [[Renault]] in France. South Korea has [[Hyudai]] and [[Kia]].  Sweden is famous for the [[Saab]] and [[Volvo]]. Chinese and Indian companies are growing rapidly.

 

Many companies operate factories in several countries. The largest producers in 2007 in descending order, each with over 1 million cars, are:

:Toyota, GM; Volkswagen; Ford; Honda; PSA Peugeot Citroën; Nissan; Fiat; Renault; Hyundai; Suzuki; Chrysler; Daimler; BMW; Mitsubishi; Kia; and Mazda.

 

==Industry trends==

==Industry trends==

The annual capacity of the industry is 17 million cars; sales in 2008 dropped to an annual rate of only 10 million vehicles made in the U.S. and Canada. All the automakers and their vast supplier network account for 2.3% of the U.S. economic output, down from 3.1% in 2006 and as much as 5% in the 1990s. Some 20% of the entire national manufacturing sector is still tied to the automobile industry.  The transplants can make a profit when sales are at least 12 million; the Big Three when sales are at least 15 million.<ref> Louis Uchitelle, "If Detroit Falls, Foreign Makers Could Be Buffer," [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/economy/17impact.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times,'' Nov. 16. 2008] </ref>

The annual capacity of the industry is 17 million cars; sales in 2008 dropped to an annual rate of only 10 million vehicles made in the U.S. and Canada. All the automakers and their vast supplier network account for 2.3% of the U.S. economic output, down from 3.1% in 2006 and as much as 5% in the 1990s. Some 20% of the entire national manufacturing sector is still tied to the automobile industry.  The transplants can make a profit when sales are at least 12 million; the Big Three when sales are at least 15 million.<ref> Louis Uchitelle, "If Detroit Falls, Foreign Makers Could Be Buffer," [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/business/economy/17impact.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin ''New York Times,'' Nov. 16. 2008] </ref>