Venezuela to Drive Toyota Out, Bring China In

One of the last sectors of the Venezuelan industry still untouched by president Hugo Chavez's 21st century revolution, the auto sector, got a blow in the groins last week when Chavez asked Japanese carmaker Toyota to build an all-terrain 4x4 vehicle, to be used by people in the country's poor, rural ares, or face expulsion from the country.

"What's this that Toyota doesn't want to make the 'rustic' model here?" Chavez was quoted as saying by CNN at a ceremony in Caracas. "We must force them. And if they don't, then they should leave and we'll bring another company in ... The Chinese want to come and they make 'rustic' models."

Chavez's threats went beyond words when he asked the trade minister Eduardo Saman to perform a "severe inspection" of Toyota.

"You tell the people at Toyota that they have to produce this model and we are going to impose a quota, and if they don't meet it, we will punish them," he told the trade minister.

The Japanese are not the only ones on the black list, as Chavez demanded other companies to share their technologies with Venezuela as well.

"Companies who come here to set up must be ready to transfer technology to us," Chavez said. "Companies who come here to set up must be ready to transfer technology to us," Chavez said.

The void left behind by the fleeing companies, should they choose this path, will be filled by ones with a bit less self esteem, originating from China, Russia, Belorussia and Iran.