No way would the Japanese govt have let that happen.
Toyota was/is a national treasure for Japan.
They did let faltering Nissan and Mitsubishi fall into bed with Renault.
Perhaps, but the price would have been in that ballpark. Then GM turned Saturn into yet another one of their nondescript corporate drones.
A different kind of car company, a different kind of car.
Until the MBAs get ahold of it...