Photo journal: Rise and fall of mass production

Imports of Japanese cars soared in the 1980s as consumers gradually grew to prefer the smaller, more reliable cars.

The unions and the US companies reacted to the threat by trying to get the US government to block imports, and by the mid-1980s had succeeded in getting Japan to agree voluntary export restraints.

But the move backfired as Japanese firms became more profitable and moved upmarket, launching cars like the Lexus.