Chinese brands do not have ability to cash in on recalls. Dan Chinoy and Li Fangfang report from Beijing.

It may only be three months old but 2010 is already shaping up to be a terrible year for Toyota. After being forced to recall millions of its most popular models due to faulty brakes and accelerators, the Japanese giant has lost not only millions of dollars but also, for many people, its reputation for making some of the world's most reliable cars.

In the United States, sales dropped 8.7 percent after customers shied away from the brand. Meanwhile, Ford, one of its biggest competitors, saw its February sales grow 43 percent on last year.