Nissan Motor Co. recalled 480, 000 vehicles globally, some 137, 000 of them in Japan, for the air bag problem.

NPR: Toyota, Honda, Nissan Announce Air Bag Recall

Toyota now accounts for about half the market and Nissan Motor Co.

WSJ: Fuel Prices Spur Rethink of Small Pickups

Nissan Motor Co. notched its highest May sales ever after cutting prices on seven popular models early in the month.

NPR: US Auto Sales See Big Gains In May

Put Nissan Motor Co. at the head of that list.

FORBES: Chevy Volt Battery Fires Threaten All Electric Vehicle Makers, Not Just GM

Carlos Ghosn, the famously outspoken CEO of Nissan Motor Co.

FORBES: New York Auto Show: Brace For More Nissan, Infiniti Ads, As Nissan Chases Honda

Japan's No. 2 automaker Nissan Motor Co. reports earnings Friday.

NPR: Toyota Raises Annual Forecasts On Profit Rise

York pushed for an alliance between GM, Nissan Motor Co. (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ) and Renault S.A., but after exploring the possibility for three months, GM's board scrapped the idea.

FORBES: Ford Circles The Wagons

Automakers Nissan Motor Co.

FORBES: How to Trade Weak Yen and Japan's Improved Manufacturing Outlook

In an early warning of a possible return to a downturn in February, Kimiyasu Nakamura, head of Nissan's joint venture in China, Dongfeng Motor Co.

WSJ: Japanese Car Makers Report Production Increases in China

That would also have put Nissan North America ahead of its next-nearest rival, American Honda Motor Co.

FORBES: New York Auto Show: Brace For More Nissan, Infiniti Ads, As Nissan Chases Honda