Covering the economic and industrial might of Japan

In 2000 Mitsubshi Motors admitted to covering up auto defects in its cars for more than 20 years.

Recalls followed.....

Then Mitsubishi revealed that there was more wrong than it had initially admitted.

Red ink followed.

Japan's number four automaker, behind Toyota, Honda and Nissan finally crawled back into the black last quarter - 4.3 billion yen net profit. That's about $35 million, peanuts for a car maker. However, last year the company lost that much in the same quarter.

Any of the American carmakers would be happy to make a profit.

Shoot they'd be happy to just not be losing billions of dollars every year.

Four major carmakers in Japan...all in the black.

All American carmakers are in the red.

What's the difference?

What do you think?