Japanese car makers hit U

Japanese carmakers hit U.S. shores in force during the fuel-conscious 1970s, and South Korean marques have followed in the last 10 to 15 years. New foreign competition in the U.S. car market also could come from Asia.

And the most likely candidate may be a country that already is manufacturing much of what Americans buy-China.

"When you look at their economy and their wages, it certainly makes sense that they would begin building their own vehicles, says Stephen Roulac, CEO of the Roulac Group, a consulting company with headquarters in San Francisco and offices in Hong Kong and India.

Elsewhere in Asia, "It wouldn't be surprising to see Vietnam coming to the U.S.," Mr. Roulac says. "It's a country with a great deal of capacity, a strong sense of style and tremendous work ethic."

Mr. Roulac cautions Americans shouldn't expect to be able to purchase a vehicle from China or Vietnam in the near future.

China, Shibangou Bridge underpass, Fuling, Yan...

United States

United States

It may take a decade before it will be feasible to even consider such an option.

China would have to transform itself much like Japan did a quarter-century ago, moving from a producer of low-cost, inferior products to premium, high-quality offerings, Mr. Roulac says.

In Vietnam, the "government has to open up to become more conducive to an enterprise coming into their country and establishing a presence," he says.

In the nearer term, new incursions into the U.S. will come from the same continent that gave us our first car imports-Europe. And they're going to come from carmakers that earlier competed in, and abandoned, the U.S. market. Fiat's Alfa Romeo, Ferrari's Maserati and MG Rover Group are revving up to enter the U.S. market.

General Motors Corp. and Italian carmaker Fiat in 2000 linked in a venture under which GM got a 20% stake in...