The car was once a symbol of American ingenuity and technological progress. But globalisation is having a huge impact on both how it's produced and on the lives of the people in the complex networks of countries across the world involved in its production.
INDIA: In Chennai, India, Boniface works making radiator caps which will end up on a US pick-up truck. The global car industry has given him a good job and great hopes for his future and that of his family.
BRITAIN: In West Bromwich, UK, Brian's firm supplies springs and washers to Boniface's company to make the caps for the pick-up truck. But Brian sees his business under increasing pressure from companies outsourcing production to India and China.
AMERICA: In Tennessee, USA, Teresa's company makes the radiators for the pick-up truck - but loses her job because of global competiton.
"Everybody is competing with everybody," she says. "They are doing what they need to do to survive - but we don't have to like it."
CHINA: But when it comes to global competition, there's one country no one can afford to ignore - China, the new Detroit of the world car industry. Car companies aren't only moving into China to make goods for export, but also to meet local demand for cars - the new status symbol in one of the world's newest economies.
The rise of foreign car companies and global networks of suppliers raises the question - what now is an American car? Is there such a thing? Some countries are winning, some losing - but no one can predict the ultimate direction of the global car industry.
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