How the Japanese lost their way in Europe; Combined market share has actually fallen since Japan's carmakers began building plants here.

Sales in Europe by Japanese brands spent the past decade going nowhere. This is not how it was supposed to be.

Japan's automakers have disproved the industry maxim that local sales follow local production.

Japanese automakers invested huge sums adapting their products to Europe, improving their national sales networks and promoting their brands. They built design centers and research and development facilities in Europe. And, between them, they invested nearly 12 billion on European car factories to supply European customers.

Collectively, Japan's net sales after all that ...