Kanto Auto Works

Kanto Auto Works (関東自動車工業) was a Japanese car manufacturer. It was a member of the Toyota Group. In July 2012, Kanto Auto Works and two other Toyota subsidiaries were merged to form Toyota Motor East Japan.

Kanto Auto Works Co., Ltd.
Native name
関東自動車工業株式会社
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
SuccessorToyota Motor East Japan
FoundedApril 25, 1946 (1946-04-25) [1]
DefunctJuly 1, 2012 (2012-07-01)
Headquarters
Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture
,
Japan
Revenue ¥504,127 million (March 2011)[2]
¥−1,965 million (March 2011)
ParentToyota
Websitewww.kanto-aw.co.jp/en

History

In April 1946, Kanto Auto Works was established in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, as an independent company called Kanto Electric Motor Works which focused on repairing cars, assembling electric vehicles and producing bus bodies. In early 1948, it became a Toyota contractor, producing auto bodies. During its early years, the company also assembled some cars for Toyota (Toyota SB, Toyota Master, Toyota Crown).[3] The company also diversified into other products such as yachts and prefabricated homes.[4] In 1950, it adopted the Kanto Auto Works name. In 1960, the company became a permanent car assembler through a new Yokosuka plant.[3] Later, the company replaced Yokosuka for car assembly with the Higashi-Fuji (established in 1968) and Iwate (established in 1993) plants.[4]

Kanto Auto Works was a public company until 2011 when, following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Toyota announced it would make it a wholly owned subsidiary.[5] On July 1, 2012, Kanto Auto Works and two other Toyota subsidiaries (Central Motors and Toyota Motors Tohoku) were combined into a single company called Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.[3][6]

Facilities
Former Kanto Auto Works headquarters, pictured in 2010
  • Head Office, Kanagawa, Yokosuka
  • Higashi Fuji Research and Development Center, Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture
  • Higashi Fuji Manufacturing Plant, 1200 Onyado Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture
  • Iwate Manufacturing Plant, Kanegasaki, Iwate Prefecture
  • Fujiko Manufacturing Plant, Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture

References
  1. "History of KANTO AUTO WORKS". Kanto Auto Works. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  2. "Company Profile". Kanto Auto Works. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  3. Jacobs, A.J. (2015). The New Domestic Automakers in the United States and Canada: History, Impacts, and Prospects. Lexington Books. pp. 105–106, 108, 115. ISBN 9780739188262.
  4. "History of Kanto Auto Works". Toyota Motor East Japan. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. Wimmer, Engelbert (2011). Motoring the Future: VW and Toyota Vying for Pole Position. Springer. p. 167. ISBN 9780230307810.
  6. Brooks, Glenn (24 August 2012). "Aisin Seiki motors for new Toyota Porte & Spade". Just-auto.com. Retrieved 26 February 2015.


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