IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM

This article discusses the controversial joint venture by General Motors Corporation and Toyota, known as New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI). The NUMMI venture marks the first time competing automakers are sharing technology and management to build small cars in the rich U.S. market. The new hybrid Chevrolet Nova which they are building is really a refined Toyota Corolla. It is designed to appeal to the young professional consumer who hasn't considered buying a domestic car in years. Production is at the idle GM plant in Fremont, California. The competitive pressure from the GM project has pushed other domestic automakers into operating agreements with the Japanese.