My family has owned a Nissan Stanza, and I have owned a Madza 323 and a Toyota Camry wagon - all of which were fine dependable cars. My father has another Camry wagon, and I currently have a Mazda Tribute. So... I like Japanese cars. I've also had many fine American cars, though my recent experience with the Swedish SAAB left me less than impressed.
Regardless... let's look at Japan and the automobile.
There are a few things one needs to know about Japanese cars nowadays.... Number 1: white is the most popular color. Not only is it easier to see at night, but it also represents purity which is something all Japanese men strive for while they cheat on their wives with a mistress. Hey... ya gotta start somewhere.
Number 2: the Japanese word for car is kuruma ((車). Now... a brief history lesson in Japanese language. The car was invented ... well... depending on what one believes, in 1860 in France, but I'm betting the Japanese did not see one until much, much later.
I could be wrong, but if the automobile is a foreign invention - IE not a Japanese one - then the word created to describe it should have been a katakana alphabet word. Not kanji,which was used for words to describe amongst other things, things that are Japanese.
Whatever.
Let's take a look at the automobile in Japan... a brief history of it just to get your going hmmm.
In Japan, the first inventors of a Japanese automobile were guys working in bicycle repair shops or at bicycle manufacturing shops... you know... those 1,000s of little bicycle repair shops that dot every single city, town, village and hamlet of Japan.
Why not... in the USA, bicycle manufacturers the Wright brothers were trying to create an aeroplane (archaic spelling of airplane) from their bike shop.
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| Panhard et Levassor |
In 1898, the Panhard et Levassor from France was the first car shipped to Japan.
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| Locomobile |
The Locomobile had a sandwiched leaf spring-style suspension, a steel chassis, wooden body and over 300 connecting pipes making up its boiler for a two-cylinder engine that was driven by steam pressure.
1902 to 1913
The first automobile made in Japan was done so in 1902 by 21-year-old Uchiyama Komanosuke (surname first) in Ginza, Tokyo after Yoshida Shintaro (surname first), a manager at Sorinshokai Bicycle, had brought back a gasoline engine from the United States. Uchiyama was working for the Sorinshokai dealership when he created this car, designing and manufacturing a chassis and body himself.
Uchiyama then built the first entirely Japanese-made gas-powered car in 1907 known as the Takuri.
Also in 1907, Hatsudoki Seizo Co. was established (in 1951 it was renamed the Daihatsu Motor Car Co., Ltd.).
Strangely enough, someone built a bus before the car. In 1904, Yamaba Torao (surname first) of Okayama-shi built the first Japanese-made bus - the Yamaba Omnibus powered by a steam engine - that could hold 10 passengers. This may have been Japan's first "car".
In 1905, the Yoshida Omnibus debuted - a gas engine vehicle. This may have indeed been Japan's first gas-powered vehicle.
In 1911, Kaishinsha Motorcar Works (later to evolve into Nissan Motors) was established in Tokyo under the guidance of Hashimoto Masujiro (surname first).
1914 to 1917
After its experience in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), the Japanese army became interested in the automobile importing in 1907 military trucks from Germany and France. In May 1911, it produced its first domestic military truck at the Osaka Artillery Factory under the orders of the Military Agency.
In 1914, Kaishinsha Motor Works began importing, assembling and selling British cars while also manufactured seven all-Japanese cars called the Dattogo (or DAT, for short) featuring a two-cylinder, ten horsepower engine.
In 1917, the Mitsubishi Zosen (Mitsubishi Shipbuilding) Co., Ltd. was established and over the next four years until 1921, it built the Model A, Japan's first series-production vehicle. Hand-built, the seven-seat sedan was based on the Fiat A3-3 (or Fiat Tipo 3) design... but it was more expensive than rival manufacturers and was discontinued after only 22 models were built.
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| Takuri |
Uchiyama then built the first entirely Japanese-made gas-powered car in 1907 known as the Takuri.
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| 1904 Yamaba Omnibus |
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| 1905 Yoshida Omnibus |
In 1905, the Yoshida Omnibus debuted - a gas engine vehicle. This may have indeed been Japan's first gas-powered vehicle.
In 1911, Kaishinsha Motorcar Works (later to evolve into Nissan Motors) was established in Tokyo under the guidance of Hashimoto Masujiro (surname first).
1914 to 1917
After its experience in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), the Japanese army became interested in the automobile importing in 1907 military trucks from Germany and France. In May 1911, it produced its first domestic military truck at the Osaka Artillery Factory under the orders of the Military Agency.
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| 1919 Mitsubishi Model A |
In 1917, the Mitsubishi Zosen (Mitsubishi Shipbuilding) Co., Ltd. was established and over the next four years until 1921, it built the Model A, Japan's first series-production vehicle. Hand-built, the seven-seat sedan was based on the Fiat A3-3 (or Fiat Tipo 3) design... but it was more expensive than rival manufacturers and was discontinued after only 22 models were built.
1918-1929
In March 1918, the Military Vehicle Subsidy Law was enacted whereby the military granted subsidies to car manufacturers to produce automobiles to be used by civilians during peaceful times and converted to military use in times of war. This was in effect Japan's first automobile industry policy.
In 1918, Isuzu formed two years earlier, joined with British manufacturer Wolseley Motor Company and by 1922 the first Isuzu Wolseley model A-9 car is domestically produced.
In March 1918, the Military Vehicle Subsidy Law was enacted whereby the military granted subsidies to car manufacturers to produce automobiles to be used by civilians during peaceful times and converted to military use in times of war. This was in effect Japan's first automobile industry policy.
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| Wolseley A-9 |
In 1918, Isuzu formed two years earlier, joined with British manufacturer Wolseley Motor Company and by 1922 the first Isuzu Wolseley model A-9 car is domestically produced.
Between 1920-1925, Gorham/Lila's auto production was established, and is only important as it was many years later merged into Datsun - the company that would become Nissan.
The Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1, 1923, created an urgent need for motor vehicles to service the inhabitants of the devastated capital. As a temporary measure until Tokyo's transportation network could be fully restored, 800 Ford Model T truck chassis were immediately imported and converted to what were known as the Entaro bus that would serve the city's transport system for a long time thereafter.
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| Entaro Bus |
Both the Gorham/Lila and Otomo companies were at this time the only two Japanese car manufacturers - though Gorham was financed by US aircraft engineer William R. Gorham (hence the non-Japanese-sounding company name).
The fall-out from the Great Kanto Earthquake was that the Ford Motor Company saw Japan as a lucrative market and set up a subsidiary in 1925 called the Ford Motors Japan, and then set up a production plant was set up in Yokohama. Model T cars were produced General Motors established operations in Osaka in 1927 and began selling Japan Chevrolets, while Chrysler set up Kyoritsu Motors.
Ford and GM showed Japan the importance of mass production technology, quality control of subcontracting parts manufacturers, and how to establish a national sales network.
Between 1925 and 1936, these three US automakers Japanese subsidiaries manufactured 208,967 vehicles, compared to the domestic Japanese producers who built only 12,127 vehicles.
1930 to 1945
American car manufacturers had begun building cars in Japan for the Japanese market and were, by 1930, producing nearly 20,000 units per year. Japanese domestic manufacturers were producing fewer than 500 units. By 1935, industrialization was well underway in Japan with as many as 16 companies producing cars.
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| 1931 Mazdago |
It should be noted that by the time Japan became involved in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), vehicle production had shifted to trucks - for the military.
By 1939, the foreign manufacturers had been forced out of Japan.
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| Ohta OD 1937 |
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| Toyota AA 1936 |
In 1936, Toyota released its first car - the Toyota AA.
In 1937, Tokyo Gas & Electric merged its car division with Automobile Industry Co., Ltd. and Kyodo Kokusan K.K., to form Tokyo Automobile Industry Co., Ltd. By 1941, the company changed its name to Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd., which would eventually become Isuzu Motors Limited.
1946-1954
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| 1946 Tama electric car. |
However, Fuji Precision Industries (later the Prince Motor Company) built the Tama in 1946 - an electric car! Despite its clunky look, it still looks a damn side better than most electric cars out on the road today in 2012. The car was created because after the war there was a shortage of gasoline. As such, the electric car was an important introduction. The Tama was used in Japan primarily as a taxi until 1950. It could drive for 65 kilometers on a single charge using its 65 volt motor. It used a lead-acid 40 volt battery - but a speed demon it was not, having a top speed of only 35 kilometers per hour.
1955 to 1965
The Japanese government saw the importance of restarting the domestic car market and took steps to stimulate innovation.
Prince Motor Company started up in 1952 and would become integrated into Nissan by 1966. Hino Motors began auto production in 1953 before merging with Toyota in 1967.
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| 1963 Honda S500 |
Subaru released its first car, the Subaru P-1 in 1954. In 1955, Suzuki began production of the 360cc Suzlite. Mitsubishi introduced its Mitsubishi 500, a small, fuel-efficient 500cc cheaply-priced car. 1960 saw the introduction by Toyo Kogyo, who would eventually become Mazda, of a 360cc coupe. Toyota's 700cc couple was introduced in 1961. All of these cars were the result of a government program urging car makers to produce small, highly fuel-efficient vehicles at an affordable price for the domestic market.
In 1963, Honda released its first car, the Honda S500 - which looks awesome!
1965 to 1975
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| Rotary Engine |
Between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, Japanese car purchasing exploded. In 1962, 14 per cent of households owned cars. By 1975 it had increased to more than 50 percent. This influx of cash allowed Japanese car manufacturers to innovate in areas of manufacturing technology and engine design, resulting in the development of the rotary engine by Toyo Kogyo.
1975 to 1985
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| 1982 Honda Accord |
In 1981, the Voluntary Export Restraints limited Japanese car exports to the U.S. to a mere 1.68 million cars a year. However, while it was done so that more people would buy American, what it did instead was force Japan to become even more competitive with its American cousins. The Japanese continued to make better, safer, more fuel-efficient vehicles that also looked good and were inexpensive to purchase.
In 1982 the Honda Accord became the first Japanese automobile manufactured in the U.S.
In 1984 Toyota opened NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.) in Fremont, California, the first joint venture automobile manufacturing plant in the U.S. with its partner General Motors.
In 1983, Jumpin' John Goldsmith releases his widely popular song: You're Still Not Safe In A Japanese Car. Nice try, America.
1985 to present By 1985, Japanese automakers had been established as world-class operations.
Innovations in manufacturing systems, management systems, and automotive materials were at levels that wouldn't be matched by other nations until the mid-1990s. Japanese manufacturers focused on product improvement, including technological innovations. One area of focus was making cars recyclable. By 1985, 75 percent of a Japanese car, by weight, could be recycled. Japanese manufacturers also focused on safety improvements. Japan began manufacturing cars in local markets, such as the United States, as a response to protectionist sentiments. By the mid-1990s, Japanese manufacturers had entered the luxury car markets with high-end co-brands, such as Acura and Lexus, being produced to compete with European manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Here's a list of some important auto makers and their entries:
- 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 Aussie's 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
- 2010 - 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls
- 2011 - Tohoku earthquake affects production of Japanese auto manufacturers and parts.
| Passenger cars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Trucks
| Manufacturer | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Buses
| Manufacturer | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Files compiled by Andrew Joseph
Thank you Wikipedia for the charts and the last two three yearly data dumps. The later bits of information were well researched... but I had to do a fair amount of research in all of the other earlier stuff because I suppose I love pioneer history.
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