AUTOS

Ford Launches Push in Japan: The company said it has begun a serious effort to penetrate the Japanese market by exporting right-hand-drive vehicles from the United States and Europe. Ford will begin exporting right-hand-drive versions of its Probe GT in early 1994 and will start exporting a converted Taurus and Explorer in 1995. Ford will also export its Mondeo from Europe beginning next spring. Like the British, Japanese drive on the left side of the road. The other Big Three auto makers recently have begun forays into the Japanese market as well. Sales of imported vehicles in Japan fell 7.7% last year to 184,615 and accounted for less than 5% of the country’s car market.