U.S. AUTO MAKERS #1 . . . BUT DON'T LOOK UNDER THE HOOD

The United States will overtake Japan as the world's biggest auto maker this year, according to a Japanese financial newspaper. The last time the U.S. carried this mantle was back in 1980. But don't expect any whooping victory celebrations: Many cars made here are actually owned by Japanese companies like Honda and Toyota. They've built plants in the U.S. because it's cheaper than shipping the cars from Japan.