At the same time, other Chinese have self-organized online to form purchasing groups with enough leverage to force down the price of, say, the new Toyota Yaris they each want to buy.

FORBES: Connect

Ford's other main rival, DaimlerChrysler, may be taking a risk buying 34% of Mitsubishi Motors, just as the Japanese firm has revealed that it has covered up product defects for 20 years, but at least it has used Mitsubishi's problems to force down the asking price and to install its own man as chief operating officer.

ECONOMIST: Making cars in Asia: Ford misses out again | The