The beat down rental car has been a symbol of the domestic auto industry's woes for decades now, but the recent upheaval has suddenly turned in the tide. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, rental companies are now buying more foreign cars than domestic brands.

"Hertz now carries as many Toyotas as Fords," according to the article. "The Nissan Altima has edged out the Chevy Impala as the top-selling car in the rental market. But the real shocker is the Koreans. Combined, automakers Kia and Hyundai grabbed a 9.5% share of the U.S. rental market last year, their highest total ever."

On one hand, getting rid of their dependence on fleet sales is a good thing for the domestics, but on the other hand, if it's done right rental cars can provide easy exposure. Should be interesting to see how it shakes out for the likes of Hyundai and Toyota.