This document provides a summary of the history of the Japanese and US auto industries. It notes that in the early 1900s, some of the first cars produced in Japan were based on European or American models. Several US automakers like Ford, GM, and Chrysler established operations in Japan in the 1920s-1930s. However, Japanese protectionist policies in the late 1930s forced foreign automakers out of the country. The document then compares Ford and Toyota, providing statistics on their founding, headquarters, revenue, employees, and production systems. It notes that Toyota utilizes a lean production system compared to Ford's early mass production approach. Finally, it contrasts the focus of US versus Japanese automakers on elements like comfort versus miniatur