Automotive industry in Japan

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The Japanese automotive industry is one of the most prominent industries in the world. Japan was the world's largest vehicle manufacturer in 2008 but is very likely to cede this position to China in 2009^[1]. It is home to a number of companies that produces cars, construction vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, engines, etc.

Japanese automotive manufacturers include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Isuzu, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Mitsuoka .

Contents 1 History 1.1 1960s to today 2 Timeline of the Japanese car industry 2.1 1900-1970 2.2 Since 1970 3 Production volumes 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading

[edit] History

[edit] 1960s to today

During the 1960s, Japanese automakers launched a bevy of new kei cars in their domestic market. These tiny automobiles usually featured very small engines (from 360cc to 600cc) to keep taxes much lower than larger cars. The average person in Japan was now able to afford an automobile, which boosted sales dramatically and jumpstarted the auto industry toward becoming what it is today. The first of this new era, actually launched in 1958, was the Subaru 360. It was known as the "Lady Beetle", comparing its significance to the Volkswagen Beetle in Germany. Other significant models were the Suzuki Fronte, Mitsubishi 500, Mazda Carol, and the Honda N360.

Rapidly increasing domestic demand and the expansion of Japanese car companies into foreign markets in the 1970s further accelerated growth. Automobile production in Japan continued to increase rapidly after the 1970s, as Mitsubishi (as Dodge vehicles) and Honda began selling their vehicles in the US. Even more brands came to America and abroad during the 1970s, and by the 1980s, the Japanese manufacturers were gaining a major foothold in the US and world markets.

With Japanese manufacturers producing very affordable, reliable, and popular cars throughout the 1990s, Japan became the largest car producing nation in the world in 2000. However, its market share has decreased slightly in recent years, particularly due to old and new competition from South Korea, China and India and a shift in the focus of Japanese government policies. Nevertheless, Japan's car industry continues to flourish, its market share has risen again, and in the first quarter of 2008 Toyota surpassed American General Motors to become the world's largest car manufacturer.^[2]

As of Oct-2009, China is comfortably set to be the largest car producing nation of 2009.^[3]

[edit] Timeline of the Japanese car industry

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] 1900-1970 This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009) 1907 - Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd. established 1911 - Kwaishinsha Motorcar Works established 1917 - Mitsubishi Motors' 1st car 1918 - Isuzu's 1st car 1924 -1927 Otomo built at the Hakuyosha Ironworks in Tokyo 1931 - Mazda Mazdago - by Toyo Kogyo corp, later Mazda 1936 - Toyota's 1st car (Toyota AA) 1952-1966 Prince Motor Company (integrated into Nissan) 1954 - Subaru's 1st car (Subaru P-1) 1955 - Suzuki's 1st car (Suzulight) 1957 - Daihatsu's 1st car (Daihatsu Midget) 1963 - Honda's 1st car (Honda S500) 1966 - The best selling car of all time, the Toyota Corolla, is introduced 1967 - Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) is founded

[edit] Since 1970 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009) 1982 - Honda Accord becomes the first Japanese car built in the United States 1982 - Mitsuoka 1st car (BUBU shuttle 50) 1983 - Holden and Nissan form a joint venture in Australia 1984 - Toyota opens NUMMI, the first joint venture plant in the United States with General Motors 1984 - Voluntary Export Restraints limit exports to United States to 1.68 million cars per year[4] 1986 - Acura is launched in the US by Honda 1988 - Daihatsu enters the US making it the first time all nine Japanese manufacturers are present 1989 - Lexus is launched in the US by Toyota 1989 - Infiniti is launched in the US by Nissan 1989 - United Australian Automobile Industries (UAAI) founded in Australia as a joint venture between Toyota and Holden 1996 - UAAI joint venture dissolved 2003 - Scion is launched by Toyota 2008 - Toyota surpasses General Motors to become the world's largest car manufacturer

[edit] Production volumes

The following are vehicle production volumes for Japanese vehicle manufacturers, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)^[5].

Passenger cars	Trucks	Buses
Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009a Toyota 3,849,353 3,631,146 2,277,426 Honda 1,288,577 1,230,621 729,804 Nissan 982,870 1,095,661 702,071 Suzuki 1,061,767 1,059,456 691,435 Mazda 952,290 1,038.725 627,517 Daihatsu 648,289 641,322 507,638 Mitsubishi 758,038 770,667 320,690 Subaru 403,428 460,515 318,714 Other 25 30 0 Total 9,944,637 9,928,143 6,175,295	Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009a Toyota 291,008 271,544 163,092 Suzuki 156,530 158,779 135,724 Daihatsu 138,312 151,935 121,291 Isuzu 236,619 250,692 104,387 Nissan 188,788 189,005 100,507 Mitsubishi 88,045 83,276 56,895 Hino 101,909 101,037 55,295 Subaru 72,422 64,401 46,098 Mitsubishi Fuso 131,055 115,573 44,462 Honda 43,268 33,760 24,803 Mazda 43,221 39,965 22,119 Nissan Diesel 44,398 45,983 16,738 Other 2,445 2,449 489 Total 1,538,020 1,508,399 891,900	Manufacturer 2007 2008 2009a Toyota 85,776 109,698 63,178 Mitsubishi Fuso 10,225 10,611 4,619 Nissan 7,422 8,416 4,130 Hino 4,984 5,179 4,044 Isuzu 3,668 3,221 1,804 Nissan Diesel 1,595 1,977 1,479 Total 113,670 139,102 79,254

Note a: January-November 2009

[edit] See also

• Automotive industry

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Robert Sobel (1984). Car Wars: The Untold Story. E. P. Dutton. ISBN 0-525-24289-9. 

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