Although "Shakespearian" may not be the first adjective that leaps to the minds of visitors in the brightly lit, high-tech environs of today's auto plants, there is much of the bard's poetic truth in today's global auto industry.

Surely the man who penned, "A rose by any other name" would appreciate the satisfaction of General Motors shareholders as Isuzu pickups roll off the assembly line in Fujisawa, Japan. They own about half of the company. Similarly, Ford shareholders own more than a third of Mazda, and the two companies have a 50-50 investment in their Michigan plant, where they build Mazda 626s and Ford Cougars. General Motors participates in the development of subcompact cars with Suzuki and Mitsubishi Motors is making Sebrings and Stratuses for DaimlerChrysler in Illinois.

The trend envelopes the globe, as multinational automobile manufacturers agree to mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures to improve their products for their customers and profits for their shareholders. The United States has been a primary driver of the global economic model, and also one of the greatest beneficiaries. For example, Japanese manufacturers employ nearly 50,000 Americans in their U.S. manufacturing facilities. More than 230,000 Americans sell JAMA member company vehicles in 7,000 U.S. dealerships. And about $36 billion in U.S.-made parts are sold by Americans to JAMA companies manufacturing in communities around the U.S. and Japan.

JAMA's energetic competition has helped keep prices low and choices broad for American consumers. And Japanese vehicles continue to set the bar for quality and innovation. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, with their hybrid fuel technology and radical design concepts, are the latest examples of JAMA members' commitment to a cleaner environment, conservation of resources and technological ingenuity.

In today's world, companies no longer dominate markets — savvy, insistent consumers do. And the nationality of a name is no longer the defining attribute of a company. Nearly 20% of American nameplates are made overseas. More than 13% of American auto exports are Japanese nameplates. Nearly two out of three Japanese nameplate vehicles sold in the U.S. are made in North America. And, of course, one of the "Big 3" American companies — Chrysler — reports to its parent company in Germany.

Hamlet's assessment, "A little more than kin, a little less than kind," would apply to the enthusiastic tangle of cars and companies in today's auto industry. This brochure is a guide to JAMA member activities and statistics in the U.S. during the course of the last year. But to truly understand what has happened, one must look beyond the numbers the companies produce to the people they employ and the consumers they serve.