Japan’s automobile industry is the backbone of the country’s entire industry. It supports a booming economy by manufacturing products for overseas delivery. Major plants are scattered across cities such as Ota, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Hamamatsu, Taeta, Shizuoka, and Hiroshima. A major shift occurred in the 1960s, known as the “Japanese economic miracle.” Then car production rose sharply for Toyota, Suzuki, Mazda, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and others.
What are Japanese automobile brands?
Japanese automobile manufacturers are numerous and effectively support the country’s economy. The most famous mass-market brands are Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki. The luxury segment includes Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Toyota Crown, and Mitsuoka. Hino, Isuzu, UD, and Datsun produced heavy machinery. Sports car brands also include Nissan Nismo and Nissan GT-R.
In the 1970s, Japanese entrepreneurs began exporting cars to the United States, sparking a conflict. However, the situation intensified Japan’s automobile industry. As a result, by the end of the 80s, Japan produced almost 13 million cars, half of which were shipped abroad. However, in the early 90s, the industry experienced a downturn, which ended in 2002. Now, Japanese companies have assembly branches in most Asian countries.
Toyota
The car company, founded in 1937, specializes in various transportation technologies and promotes hybrid models. Its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda, after whom it was named, founded the company. Toyota Motor Corporation is headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. This automaker was also the first in the world to reach 10 million vehicles per year, and in 2012, it produced its 200 millionth vehicle.
Starting as a subsidiary of Toyota Industries, the Japanese auto giant has grown to an incredible size. It owns five brands under which it manufactures passenger cars: Ranz, Hino, Daihatsu, Lexus, and the eponymous Toyota.
Honda
Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa founded the Honda Motor Company, which entered the Japanese automobile market in 1948. Starting with piston rings, the brand gradually expanded to produce a wide range of products, including cars and other transportation equipment. By 2019, Honda had become the world’s sixth-largest automaker. It was also the first company to introduce the Acura luxury series (in 1986). The company is headquartered in Minato City, Tokyo Prefecture.
Subaru
Founded by Kenji Kita in 1953, the division gradually became an independent unit and a significant part of Fuji Heavy Industries’ (now Subaru Corporation) structure. In 2017, it became the world’s 21st-largest automobile manufacturer.
Today, the brand focuses on those who want a good drivetrain, a branded engine, and all-wheel drive for cross-country driving. The brand also specializes in inexpensive sports cars. The company’s name is symbolic: in Japan, it refers to the Pleiades constellation, which includes seven stars, one of which is invisible. The company merged with six other firms and formed a separate corporation.
Nissan
The full name of this automobile manufacturer is Nissan Motor Company. Since 1933, it has specialized in producing transport equipment and currently produces mass-market passenger cars. Its founders are Masujiro Hashimoto and Yoshisuke Aikawa, and its headquarters are in Nishi-Ku, Yokohama Prefecture. The name is derived from the merger of two stems, Nihon Sangyo. This is the name the company used to have; its current name is the abbreviation used on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Automakers produce passenger cars under three brands: Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun.
Mazda
One of Japan’s oldest engineering companies was founded in 1920 and is located in Fuchu City, Aki County (Hiroshima Prefecture). Entrepreneur Jujiro Matsuda founded it, after whom it is named. Japanese philosophy also played a major role in branding, as the image of the deity Ahura Mazda, representing wisdom, reason, and light, was incorporated into the name.
At first, the company did not focus on cars; it switched to them later, in 1931. After reviving production and hiring skilled workers, the brand quickly began exporting passenger cars and gained worldwide recognition.
Mitsubishi
This brand also represents the mass-market car category. It was founded in 1970 as a division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The company later grew into a large enterprise and joined the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The German corporation Daimler AG owns it, and it is headquartered in Minato City near Tokyo. In 2011, Mitsubishi was ranked sixth among Japanese automakers.
Suzuki
The Suzuki company began its career in the early twentieth century. In 1909, it was called Suzuki Loom Works and produced weaving machines. Despite its success, the manufacturer retrained to keep up with the times. To do so, it entered the automobile industry.
In 1937, the company launched a new project that produced several innovative passenger cars. Today, this brand offers a range of transportation products, including SUVs, motorcycles, four-wheel-drive vehicles, and road cars. In terms of sales, this Japanese company ranks third in the domestic market and tenth internationally.
Lexus
Entrepreneur Eiji Toyoda founded the brand in 1983; its headquarters are in Nagoya, and it operates centers in Brussels (Belgium) and Plano, Texas, U.S. Today, the brand’s cars are in demand in more than 70 countries worldwide. Lexus products are also highly valued domestically, with the brand being the most sought-after in Japan. The manufacturer is among the top ten largest international companies by market value. The models produced include SUVs, convertibles, coupes, and sedans; in 2005, a hybrid version appeared.
Acura
Along with Lexus and Infiniti, this is the youngest member of the luxury class. It debuted in 1986 and has since supplied the best examples of the Japanese automobile industry to the USA and Canada. Its products are also in demand in Hong Kong, Mexico, China, and Russia. The model range includes powerful, heavy cars and luxury models.
The company introduced its first flagship car, the Legend, in the late 1980s. Its success forced competitors to rush to create something similar. In the early 2000s, the brand introduced new models, including the MDX, a unique SUV. It was offered in two versions, RSX and TSX, which replaced the coupe and sedan versions of the Integra.
Infiniti
This luxury brand also appeared in 1986, in the late 90s of the last century. Bill Bruce founded it in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, as Infiniti Global Limited. The brand belongs to Nissan, which is a division of the company. In 2012, the manufacturer announced its intention to switch to electric car production. As a result, in 2021, all of its cars will be either electric or hybrid. Outside Japan, the company launched its first-ever luxury car, the QX60, formerly the JX35.
Toyota Crown
This is one of the oldest representatives of the luxury class, dating back to 1955. The brand belongs to Toyota and represents a special category of passenger cars, E (executive car). It mainly includes mid-size sedans and captures the Japanese and other Asian markets. The Toyota Store car is the most popular among buyers from other countries: it is in demand for government motorcades.
Mitsuoka
This brand dates back to 1968 and is Japan’s official distributor of TD2000 retro roadsters. The automaker also works with production brands. It replaces its elements with its own variants, so the brand is known for cars with unconventional designs that mimic the style of original British cars from the 50s and 60s. The company also launched its Orochi sports car and is a major distributor of classic roadsters.
Hino
The leading heavy, medium, and light-duty machinery company was founded in 1942 in Hino-shi, near Tokyo. It is part of the Toyota Group and a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. In addition to trucks, the company produces buses, which it exports overseas. It is currently Japan’s second-largest supplier of heavy equipment.
Isuzu
Founded in 1916, the company was revived in 1934 as Isuzu. It manufactures medium-duty trucks, construction equipment, diesel engines, and buses. It also designs, assembles, and sells these products worldwide. Today, the automaker has assembly plants and production facilities in several prefectures in Japan.
UD
The full name of this brand is UD Trucks Corporation. Its head office is located in Ageo (Saitama Prefecture). The company was founded as Nissan Diesel. In 2010, it received its current name, “Ultimate Dependability.” The rebranding followed the company’s acquisition by the Volvo Group, which now owns it outright.
Datsun
The brand was founded in 1931 and is based in Tokyo. Nissan owns the brand and periodically canceled and renewed it. From 1958 to 1986, cars intended for export were labeled. In 2013, Nissan restored the Datsun name and applied it to a series of inexpensive cars intended for delivery to markets in developing countries. The company mainly produces economy-class cars and small trucks.
Nissan Nismo
The company was formed in September 1984 and is headquartered in Gap. It originated from the merger of two motorsports divisions. It is named after its predecessor, Nissan Motorsport. The first word comes from the first syllable, “Nis,” and the second from the second syllable, “Mo.” The sports cars compete in many international races, including Formula E, Blancpain GT Series, and Super GT.
Nissan GT-R
This is the name of the luxury car model hand-assembled by the manufacturer Nissan Motor Company. It is the successor to the Skyline GT-R passenger car series and was designed by Shiro Nakamura. The previous high-speed sports car was called the Grand Tourer; the first letter abbreviates the second name. The brand was founded in 2007. The company is located in Kaminokawa (Tochigi).
Daihatsu
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, which acquired it in 2016. The brand, introduced in 1907, is located in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture. In the Japanese market, it produces small, ultra-compact, and subcompact cars known as “kei jidosha.” The company also offers hybrid cars and 2-stroke diesel engines.
Autobacs
Toshio Sumino founded the brand in 1947. It first appeared in Fukushima-ku, Osaka Prefecture, as Fuji Syokai Co., Ltd. Then, its network expanded to several branches. It is a specialty auto parts and accessories store that sponsors the Japanese Grand Prix and has many outlets in Asia and France.
Scion
The company was founded in 2003 and offers affordable, stylish, compact cars. Each car is sold in a single configuration at a base price. The firm’s head office was located in Torrance, California (USA). In 2016, the parent company, Toyota, absorbed the brand and ceased to exist. The remaining car models were discontinued or renamed Toyotas.