yeah, it's sorta comming at the expense of the US car maker employee of course, though China's the largest maker today it's current production is actually lower than the US' peak production, it's just that it keeps rising (it has rose nearly 20 fold in the last 2 decade!) while the US have fell quite a bit over the last few years. though the Auto Unions have to take a considerable portion of the blame here.
Still, car sales in East Asia can be misleading, since most people's preferred way of travel is a scooter, much more useful in the usually high density populated countries around here. where parking and going through traffic with such a thing is much more convient (not to meantion cheaper).
I drive a small FORD sometimes for work, but most daily travel I use a older modle of this SYM fighter.
the maintainese cost difference is already a huge incentive for most folks here to use these instead, a checkup is like 1/10 the cost (you essentially only need to change gear oils and stuff.) the only true downside is that it really sucks in snow conditions (but that's a non-issue in Taiwan obviously
), that and of course if it rains your not going to come out completely dry even with a rain jacket on. it is somewhat less safe ofcoruse than car, but the difference is usually within acceptable range. afterall they're usually not gonig to be going as fast as cars either and most people are far more aware / concern about their personal saftey on these things then when they drive cars.
According to current government registry figure, there are about 6 million registered passenger cars in Taiwn, but 15 million registered motorcycles.