Aisin Seiki

At the core of diversified operations at Aisin Group, Aisin Seiki strives for a creative evolution of new businesses for a global company. Capitalizing on its established excellence in technological development, quality assurance, and manufacturing, Aisin Seiki is perpetually evolving and expanding into new business areas. With dynamism, innovation, and creativity, which are also at the core of the Aisin management philosophy, we strive to grow as a global company, a company that interconnects with various communities and is actively involved in environmental preservation. The company merges with Shinkawa Kogyo Co. Ltd. to form Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. Aisin U.S.A. Manufacturing Inc. and Aisin America Inc. are created to strengthen U.S. operations. Aisin America merges with Aisin U.S.A. to create Aisin World Corp. of America. Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. is a leading international manufacturer and supplier of engine-related products, drivetrain-related products, brake and chassis-related products, and various other automotive parts. The company also manufacturers environmentally friendly vacuum pumps and industrial cooling systems. Through its Creative Lifestyle Products division, Aisin sells beds, furniture, fabrics, medical instruments, gas engine drive heat-pump air conditioners, and housing equipment such as microcomputer controlled shutters and high-tech toilet seats. Overall, the company has over 100 subsidiaries that operate in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Aisin's automotive segment accounts for nearly 95 percent of company sales, while its creative lifestyle and energy and environment products make up the rest. Toyota owns approximately 27 percent of the firm. In 1943, Aisin was founded as Tokai Aircraft Company by Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of the Toyota Group. Tokai Aircraft was founded to manufacture engine parts for World War II aircraft. In 1945, at the close of the war, Tokai Aircraft switched its production to sewing machines and automotive parts, both products that had been in short supply during the war. In 1949, Tokai Aircraft Company changed its name to Aichi Kogyo Company. This company then merged with Shinkawa Kogyo Co. Ltd. in 1965 to form Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. In the 1950s and 1960s, Aisin's operations were confined to Japan. As part of the Toyota Group, Aisin grew steadily, supplying parts to its parent automotive company and continuing to produce sewing machines. During the year 1969 and throughout the 1970s, however, the company pursued aggressive international growth. In 1969, Aisin reached a technical agreement for power-steering gears with Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen of West Germany. Aisin-Warner Limited was also established as a joint venture in 1969. Aisin U.S.A. was formed in 1970, and in 1971 Aisin Europe was established in Belgium. A technical agreement for bumper shock-isolators was concluded with Menasco Manufacturing Company in the United States in 1972. The formation of Aisin (U.K.) Ltd. and Aisin (Australia) Pty. Ltd. also took place in 1972. The Liberty Mexicana subsidiary was formed in Mexico in 1973, and Aisin do Brasil was established in Brazil in 1974. The year 1977 saw the formation of Aisin Asia in Singapore, and in 1978 Aisin Deutschland was established in West Germany. Finally, in 1979, the Elite Sewing Machine Manufacturing Company was established in Taiwan as a joint venture. Aisin U.S.A. was established to import aftermarket auto parts for imported cars--mostly Toyotas--in the United States and also to import specially prepared aftermarket parts for U.S.-made automobiles. In 1990, Aisin U.S.A. imported twice as many parts for American cars as for imported cars. At the same time, Aisin Seiki Company supplied a wide range of products worldwide through its network of 14 overseas subsidiaries and its branches in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and throughout the Pacific. In 1989, only five percent of Aisin's sales had been to export markets. After Wo