Well, no I don't. You can't call Daihatsu a mainstream Japanese
manufacturer and Daihatsu never attempted to sell cars throughout the
US. It sold cars only in select markets (like California) and majority of
Americans never heard the word Daihatsu because they were never sold here.
In the same time, all Japanese car makers that entered the US that I can
remember have succeeded. In fact in some markets they have almost 50%
marketshare (alas no quotas here). Furthermore, Japanese make cars for
American "car manufacturers" (like Plymouth Colt aka Mitsubishi Colt,
etc.) and even managed to re-enter market twice! As Suzuki selling cars
as Suzuki and also as Geo in a coop with GM.
PSA's shareholders would do themselves (and us) a big favor if they'll
ship all their management and marketing folks to work in some Daihatsu
factory in Japan and hire some Germans or Japanese to do the job.
Cheers,
Eugene
(fuel pump? anyone)