Small wonder that Mitsubishi has a reputation for being second-best.

ECONOMIST: Mitsubishi

Details have not been fixed, but the design will probably be based on one of Mitsubishi's existing small cars, and production will probably take place at Nedcar, a Dutch plant that Mitsubishi shares with Volvo.

ECONOMIST: DaimlerChrysler

The Mitsubishi i MiEV is a capable small car, and it has four seats.

ECONOMIST: Rational consumer

Mitsubishi has yet to reveal its small-car entry, but it is introducing the mid-size Lancer later this year.

CNN: INDIA'S CAR WARS

Mitsubishi, which has more experience than DaimlerChrysler with small cars, should be better at holding down costs, and the alliance should also help to bring the Smart to Asia, a market that may suit it well.

ECONOMIST: DaimlerChrysler

Mitsubishi wants to take orders from companies that are too small to deal directly with the likes of Nippon Steel, Japan's biggest steel maker.

ECONOMIST: Japanese trading houses

Earlier this decade, DaimlerChrysler had partnerships with Mitsubishi and Hyundai that were going to be the basis for small-car growth in Asia and other emerging markets.

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