One example is the automotive industry. Downstream industries were typically
dominated by market mechanisms, and government intervention in general was weak.
However, the automotive industry attracted attention as a strategic industry, and the
MITI made continual efforts to promote it. In 1952, MITI decided to protect the
automotive industry, and in May 1955, the ministry issued a draft guideline for
promoting a national car, that was to be small-sized and inexpensive, partially for the
exports market, and to be produced by one company only. The guideline was not
approved in total by the government, as it was regarded too difficult to implement,
given the technological constraints of the time.