41.   Elsewhere, shares of Japanese automakers sank amid concern profit growth may lag from a slowing economic recovery.

42.   Exports of cars continued to decline as the U.S. car market weakened and as Japanese automakers shifted more production to the United States.

43.   For Japanese automakers, the year was mixed.

44.   For months both MITI and the Japanese automakers had firmly opposed the idea of new voluntary plans as a basic principle.

45.   For that reason, some American operations of Japanese automakers have been losing money in recent years, analysts believe.

46.   For one thing, Japanese automakers could have issued the plans on their own, freeing the Japanese government from being involved in private-sector matters.

47.   For whatever reason, until now, safety took a back seat to fuel economy and style among both Japanese automakers and consumers.

48.   Ford and several Japanese automakers are expected to release sales Monday.

49.   Ford said it was reacting to bigger incentives offered by Japanese automakers and Chrysler Corp.

50.   Ford, which has been pumping both cash and management experience into the struggling Japanese automaker, is also expected to take more day-to-day control at Mazda.