Parity in Cars - From Businessweek

Toyota's No. 1! Who Cares?

Sure, Toyota (TM) will probably overtake General Motors (GM) as the world's biggest automaker by sales—and Asian auto companies such as Nissan (NSANY), Honda (HMC), and Mazda (MZDAF) will continue to make market share grabs in the U.S.

But here's a prediction: Though there will be hand-wringing in the business press and in Washington about U.S. industrial decline, ultimately this story will turn out to be a non-event. Most U.S. car buyers really don't care that much about which company produces their car, just as long as it is the product of quality engineering and design.

Also, most foreign carmakers, and certainly Toyota, have invested huge sums in U.S. plant capacity and provide well-paying manufacturing jobs all across the U.S. So there is little incentive for U.S. lawmakers, especially in states where Asia transplant factories have been located, to make a fuss. Like it or not, what's good for Toyota is now good for the U.S.