Drive On: Japanese automakers note gains

Nearly seven out of 10 new cars from Japanese brands that are sold in North America are made here as well, the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association says in a progress report being released today.

The 68% of cars sold in North America is up from 62% in 2008. In addition, the makers bought 43.2 million of parts for their U.S.-made cars last year. While down from the peak production year of 2007, it's now at the highest level since.

Some 53,000 workers in the U.S. make cars for the Japanese, makers like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru and others. Among other things, they turn out many of the 80% of alternative-powered cars that are sold in the U.S..

With a weak dollar against the yen that encourages U.S. manufacture, the Japanese say about 260,000 cars were made here for export to other countries.