Japanese auto manufacturers growth fuels the US economy. Number of General Motor's North American manufacturing facilities Number of All Japanese Automaker's combined North American manufacturing facilities Export of Japanese vehicles manufactured in Japan to the US has increased from 1.55 to 2.26 million vehicles from 2004 to 2006. (Source: JAMA 2006 CY Data) Japanese monetary policy maintains a weaker Yen to Dollar ratio to stimulate Japanese sales to the US, and weakens US economic growth. Japanese manufacturers have the same US produced content as the US manufacturers. Domestic parts content for new vehicles sold in North America. General Motors 59% Honda 48% Toyota 11% BMW 10% Infiniti 3% Kia 3% Hyundai 2% Lexus (Source: 2005 AALA Report, Automotive News Data Center) Japanese manufacturers are more "green" than GM. Toyota is the Fuel Efficiency and Hybrid Leader. General Motors offers 23 vehicles that average over 30 miles per gallon. More than any other manufacturer. General Motors offers the Best in Class FPSU economy. A power to mileage ratio of 300HP / 20 MPG. The General Motors vehicle line-up will include 12 hybrid models by the second quarter of 2008. The 2008 Tahoe/Yukon Dual Hybrid System sets the new standard for hybrids. A 25% improvement in overall fuel economy with the performance, capability and comfort of a full-size SUV. New government-fuel economy ratings, which better reflect real world driving conditions, are showing that the actual fuel savings of Toyota's Hybrid vehicles is less than initially thought. (Source: USA Today Feb 23, 2007) Who has a lower energy cost per mile? When considering initial cost, vehicle and battery life expectancy, operating and fuel costs: Toyota Hybrid: $3.25 per mile General Motors Hummer: $1.94 per mile E85, an 85% Ethanol, 15% Petroleum fuel is a cleaner burning fuel and reduces US dependency on foreign oil supplies. E85 Models Offered by General Motors: E85 Models Offered by Toyota: 0 E85 Models Offered by Honda: 0 There are currently over 2 million General Motors E85 FlexFuel vehicles, vehicles that will run on regular gas or E85, on the road. 500,000 vehicles are added to that total every year. Toyota Tundra sets the benchmark for full-sized pick-ups. Toyota Tundra lags domestic pick-ups in crash-test results. Tundra falls one star short of the perfect five-star rating for driver and passenger safety in head-on collisions in tests by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Big pick-ups from General Motors earned five stars. (Source: The Detroit News March 20, 2007) Toyota may recall Tundras equipped with 5.7-liter V-8s to replace engines. The trouble with the engines, the most powerful engine available on the new pick-up, is the latest in a series of recalls and problems that have dented Toyota's reputation. (Source: The Detroit News May 32, 2007) Japanese quality is superior to General Motors Mounting recalls worry Toyota. The corporation, which gained customers largely because of a reputation for quality, is concerned that a rise in recalls could hold back growth, an internal report shows. (Source: Gannett News Service / Cincinnati Enquirer Feb 12, 2007) Honda Motor Co. plans to recall 298,231 vehicles across 13 models to repair a manufacturing defect that could stop the car's engine. (Source: MSN News March 23, 2007) Toyota to settle engine sludge class action suit with thousands of customers who say oil-sludge build-up ruined their car engines. The agreement calls for the auto maker to reimburse owners of damaged cars for costs including engine repair, towing and storage charges, rental cars, attorney fees and "inconvenience, annoyance, anxiety and aggravation". (Source: The Detroit News 2007) Honda's mileage out of whack... six million told that odometers set "fast". Honda and Acura, a division of Honda, have sent letters to customers who bought or leased vehicles between spring 2002 and fall 2006 telling them that their actual odometers registered an average 2.5 percent more miles than were actually driven. Tentative class-action settlement includes the extensions of warranties and lease mileage, and the repair / exceeded mileage limit costs incurred. (Source: The Columbus Dispatch Feb 21, 2007)