It helps that all are making generous profits after years of losses. A weaker currency means they are well-nigh printing money, notes Max Warburton of Sanford C. Bernstein, an equity-research firm. Subaru and Mazda, the biggest exporters among the five, are enjoying record sales in North America. Subaru now outsells VW there. The Japanese small-fry are also more profitable than most firms in the industry.