The Asahi Shimbun: Carmakers charge at rivals' strengths

[La_Serpiente]

Carmakers charge at rivals' strengths

DETROIT, Michigan-Competition in the U.S. automobile market will likely heat up over the coming years as Japanese and U.S. automakers attempt to make inroads into each other's stronghold.

Japanese companies are ramping up production of pickup trucks, a category long dominated by their U.S. rivals, which, for their part, will try to regain market share lost to Japanese makers in the passenger car segment.

Toyota Motor Corp. used the opportunity of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to unveil the FTX, its full-size pickup truck prototype.

James Press, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., Toyota's U.S. sales arm, predicted the FTX would help Japan's top automaker seize a share of the pickup market equal to the share it now enjoys in passenger cars. \

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Environmental protection technology is also drawing industry attention at the motor show.

Good. I cannot wait to buy my new Hybrid.

Carmakers charge at rivals' strengths