And as auto operations expand abroad, the need for so much capacity in Japan will probably dwindle even more.

By comparison, profits from auto operations abroad doubled, to $316 million.

Despite being terminally ill with cancer, Egbert fought the directors tooth and nail in his efforts to continue auto operations.

Some money is being spent: Ford Motor paid $6.5 billion last month to buy Volvo's auto operations.

But his role as an overseer apparently did not provide what directors were seeking: direct daily experience in making decisions about auto operations.

G.M. plans to combine its domestic and international auto operations in a shake-up expected to be announced today.

The company said it lost $405 million in American automotive operations and $1.1 billion in foreign auto operations in 1992.

When the auto plant started rehiring, laid-off workers left other jobs to return to the auto operation.

The company's auto operations posted a loss in the third quarter, and its market share has slipped in the last year.

Ford earned $1 billion from auto operations in the first quarter, up from just $142 million a year earlier.