I am going to jump in (I know a little late) with a couple of comments. First I have been in the lift truck industry since 1974 and have seen a few changes.. The first "Japanese" lift I saw in the US was a Yale built by
Sumitomo who still builds Hysters and Yales... I now sell a "Japanese" branded machine but allways use the terms US branded or Japanese
branded as you can't tell where most parts come from... Clark is owned by a Korean hat maker, Cat/Towmotor is a Mitzi brand... I don't think any castings are US anymore, but south american or far eastern. Like it or not
the lines are blurrirng and we can't stop it.....