Trade: Made in The U.S.A.

Made in The U.S.A.

Surrounded by all the recent flag-waving "Buy American" sales promotions, Japanese automaker Mazda might be experiencing something of an identity crisis. At the Chicago Auto Show this week, Mazda's U.S. subsidiary introduced a redesigned midsize 626 sedan.

But it wasn't the 626's smart looks that drew attention so much as it was the new automobile's parenthood. The 626 may well become the first U.S. import brand to qualify under Environmental Protection Agency standards as an "American" product. Not only will U.S. workers at Mazda's Flat Rock, Mich., plant assemble the automobile, but 75% of its total content will be American-made.

Mazda's...

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