Timeline of The Japanese Car Industry
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- 1907 - Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd. established
- 1911 - Kwaishinsha Motorcar Works established
- 1917 - Mitsubishi Motors' 1st car
- 1918 - Isuzu's 1st car
- 1920-1925 - Gorham/Lila - auto production established (merged into Datsun)
- 1924-1927 - Otomo built at the Hakuyosha Ironworks in Tokyo
- 1931 - Mazda Mazdago - by Toyo Kogyo corp, later Mazda
- 1934-1957 - Ohta begins auto production
- 1936 - Toyota's 1st car (Toyota AA)
- 1952-1966 - Prince Motor Company (integrated into Nissan)
- 1953-1967 - Hino Motors starts auto production (merged into Toyota)
- 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 production car (Honda S500)
- 1966 - One of the best selling cars of all time, the Toyota Corolla, is introduced
- 1967 - Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) is founded
- 1967 - Mazda Cosmo 110S was one of first two mass-produced cars with Wankel rotary engine
- 1980 - Japan surpassed the United States and became first in auto manufacturing
- 1981 - Voluntary Export Restraints from May limit exports to United States to 1.68 million cars per year; redundant by 1990 as production inside US displaces direct exports; similar policies in several EU countries
- 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
- 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
- 1991 - Mazda HR-X was one of the first hydrogen (combined with Wankel rotary) car
- 1994 - Japan conceded to the United States back in auto manufacturing
- 1996 - UAAI joint venture dissolved
- 1997 - Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid car
- 2003 - Scion is launched by Toyota
- 2006 - Japan surpassed the United States and became first in auto manufacturing again
- 2008 - Toyota surpassed General Motors to become the world's largest car manufacturer
- 2009 - Japan was beat by China and became second in auto manufacturing
- 2010 - 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls
- 2011 - Tohoku earthquake affects production.
Read more about this topic: Automotive Industry In Japan
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