Let The Good Times Roll
Kawasaki
Tagline
Net Worth
$15,000,000,000
Started in (City)
Started in (Country)
Japan
Incorporation Date
15th December, 1896
Bankruptcy Date
-
Founders
- Shōzō Kawasaki
About
Kawasaki went from a small shipping company to one of the most successful companies in the history of motorcycle production in Japan. The first company to bear the name "Kawasaki" was founded in 1878 by Nagasaki, who was one of the first to allow trade with the West at the end of the 19th century. Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabusikigaisya "means" Kawasaki Heavy Industries, "although the official English name change was not made until 1969. In 1939, Kawazakis’ smaller companies were founded under one banner, but it was not until 1954 that Kawasaki's Motorcycles produced its first complete motorcycle. Kawasaki motorcycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries at plants in Japan, Michigan, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, heavy equipment, aerospace and defense equipment, rolling stock, and ships. It is also active in the production of industrial robots, gas turbines, boilers, and other industrial products. The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has dual headquarters in Chūō, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.
KHI is known as one of the three major heavy industrial manufacturers of Japan, alongside Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI. Before the Second World War, KHI was part of the Kobe Kawasaki zaibatsu, which included Kawasaki Steel and Kawasaki Kisen. After the conflict, KHI became part of the DKB Group In 1949, the company developed its first motorcycle engine, and its entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the new technology is developed.
Beginning
Kawasaki can trace its roots back to 1878, when founder Shozo Kawasaki opened a shipyard in Tokyo, Japan, to build steel ships that sailed out into the ocean. The Japanese shipbuilding industry, but the enterprising Kawasaki had his first chance to get involved (18th).
Kawasaki has built a reputation for inventing new technologies and applying them to all aspects of the company. The Kawasaki brand has grown and represents the best of Japanese engineering by applying new technologies to every aspect of its business, from the design and manufacture of motorcycles to the development and marketing of new products. Unlike Honda and Yamaha, Japanese companies limit their capabilities to anything fast and powerful. Although it is not afraid of a challenge, it remains one of Japan’s leading motorcycle brands and a leader in the world of off-road motorcycles. The first "Kawasaki motorcycle" engine is based on the same design as its predecessor and was developed with the help of a team of engineers from the University of California, San Diego. Although Kawasaki did not start developing its first motorcycle engine until 1949, it jumped on the bandwagon and produced the first mass-produced engines in 1954.
In 1966 Kawasaki took over the company with the help of Meguro, the oldest motorcycle company in Japan, and began producing larger motorcycles in 1966.
Road to Success
The company experienced enormous post-war growth, and as Kawasaki Heavy Industries grew and expanded its manufacturing presence, the motorcycle evolved. Kawasaki’s docks were largely in one piece and functioning, but the company headquarters remained. Although Kawasaki no longer manufactures motorcycles in the US, it makes other vehicles and products in Japan. As the company expanded beyond off-road motorcycles, its US business boomed with the introduction of the K1, K2, and K3 models, as well as several other models.
Kawasaki Aircraft Heavy Industries was founded in 1969 by a team of engineers, engineers, and engineers from Japan, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Netherlands with the help of the US Army, Rolls-Royce, General Electric, Lockheed Martin and others. In 1969, the American Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp. was founded to bring the name and brand "Kawasaki" to the US market. Riders of Kawasaki is a community, especially for Kawasaki owners. All you have to do to become a member is to be a Kawasaki's owner and register online.
In 1969, Kawasaki bought the companies, with a new subsidiary called Eastern Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp. and Meguro Motors Corp., and both subsidiaries merged to form the Southern California Kawasaki Motors Corporation USA. At the same time, they also took over the production of their own motorcycles such as K1, K2, and K3. Today, it has grown into a multinational company with over fly holdings around the world. Kawasaki has built a reputation for inventing new technologies and applying them to all aspects of the company. The Kawasaki brand has grown and represents the best of Japanese engineering by applying new technologies to every aspect of its business, from the design and manufacture of motorcycles to the development and marketing of new products. Unlike Honda and Yamaha, Japanese companies limit their capabilities to anything fast and powerful. Although it is not afraid of a challenge, it remains one of Japan’s leading motorcycle brands and a leader in the world of off-road motorcycles.
In the 1980s, they also produced off-road vehicles that could compete with Honda in design, quality, and performance, but these models were so popular that they had to open a second office to keep up with demand.
Challenges
In 1983, Kawasaki made history by becoming the first foreign car manufacturer to open a factory here in the United States. They also produced the world’s first all-electric motorcycle, as well as a hybrid version of the Honda Civic.
This move allowed Kawasaki to capitalize on the Japanese government’s efforts to promote industrial growth through various government subsidies. In a country where there is no industrial economy, it remained difficult for them to obtain materials and parts, but they did it by supporting and nurturing young talent and putting the full weight of a brand behind them. Company’s motorcycle division may be the smallest part of the machine, but it is the best known - and the catalyst that has made it a household name from a giant unknown manufacturing company. It is a mission statement to get more people to drive their machines, and the quality assurance of their parts is strict and helps to bring their motorcycles to peak performance.
Now the competitors are Yamaha, Viper Motorcycle, EBR, Polaris Industries, Ducati, Ultra Motorcycles, BMW Group, Triumph Motorcycles, ROKON, and harley Davidsons.
Failures
Shinzo Kawasaki the founder, when he started the shipping business in Osaka at 27 has failed when his cargo ship had stuck in a storm. In 1902 when Kawasaki company before Finishing the construction on Dry Dock at Kobe Shipyard, the construction work faced many problems with weak foundations on site of Minatogawa river and failed a couple of times.
Kawasaki expanded beyond offroad motorcycles, its US business boomed with the introduction of the K1, K2, and K3 models, as well as several other models. Meguro Motorcycles remained one of the top 10 manufacturers until the 1960s, but the company began to shrink due to wrong decisions.
With the company seeing continuous losses in the 21st Century. It formed a joint venture with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. However, by the end of 2001, the agreement was terminated. In the following years, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co. hShinzo Kawasaki the founder, when he started the shipping business in Osaka at 27 has failed when his cargo ship had stuck in a storm. In 1902 when Kawasaki company before Finishing the construction on Dry Dock at Kobe Shipyard, the construction work faced many problems with weak foundations on site of Minatogawa river and failed a couple of times.
Kawasaki expanded beyond off-road motorcycles, its US business boomed with the introduction of the K1, K2, and K3 models, as well as several other models.
Meguro Motorcycles remained one of the top 10 manufacturers until the 1960s, but the company began to shrink due to wrong decisions.
With the company seeing continuous losses in the 21st Century. It formed a joint venture with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. However, by the end of 2001, the agreement was terminated. In the following years, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co. have seen a fluctuation of profits and losses
Achievements
- ‘Motorcycle of the Year’ - Kawasaki ZX-14R (2012)
- Motorcycle News Awards - Manufacturer of the year - (2018)
- Motorcycle News Awards - Best Retro – Z900RS (2018)
- Motorcycle News Awards - Best All-rounder – Ninja H2 SX (2018)
- Kawasaki NINJA SX SE - Best looking motorcycle of (2020)
Subsidies
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine
- Eastern Kawaki Motorcycle Corp
- Meguro Motors Corp.
CEOs
- Yasuhiko Hashimoto