YAZAKI’s timeline of success dates back to 1929 when Sadami YAZAKI began selling wiring harnesses for automobiles. After important changes in governmental regulations in 1935, Japanese companies were allowed to start domestic automotive production – with positive effects for YAZAKI: In 1939 the business could be expanded and in 1941, YAZAKI Electric Wire Industrial Co. Ltd. was established with about 70 employees.
At this time, automotive engineering was a promising branch of industry and so in 1949, Sadami YAZAKI made an important strategic decision: to focus on the production of automotive wiring harnesses. This was a groundbreaking decision, which resulted in today’s global leadership.
The competencies YAZAKI developed in the automotive business were used to establish various types of equipment for the city gas industry, amongst others, also the world’s first solar-powered absorption cooling system, designed and built, in 1974. Since then the company has developed and provided a large number of products that support the supply and utilization of various energy sources, such as electricity transmission cables, gas security systems, air-conditioning equipment and the aforementioned absorption chillers. As a result, YAZAKI began to cater for a safe and environmentally friendly society. These products are now integrated under the environment & energy equipment operations, the second biggest sector in the YAZAKI Group, emphasising its continued commitment to an environmentally friendly future.
The following table provides an overview of the years of successful, integrated personnel and customer management maintained by tradition and the high standards YAZAKI has upheld to the current day.
1929
YAZAKI founded by Mr. Sadami YAZAKI
1938
YAZAKI opens its first electric wire factory.
1941
Sadami YAZAKI establishes YAZAKI Corporation in Tokyo
1949
Automotive cable production begins
1950
Instrumentation production begins
1959
YAZAKI Parts Co., Ltd. is established.
1960
YAZAKI sets up its gas meter production at the Shimada factory.
1963
First overseas sales office opened in the USA
1966
Representative office in Europe opened in Switzerland
1979
Junction box production begins
1980
YAZAKI Europe is established with the opening of the first European sales office location in the UK
1981
Optical fibre & connector production begins
1986
First European production plant opened in Portugal
1987
First European R&D department opened in Germany
1993
First Instrument Cluster with CAN-Connection for SAAB Europe
1998
YUK (YAZAKI United Kingdom) changes name to YAZAKI Europe Limited
2001
Move to new Cologne Office with seperate Testing Center
2001
Foundation of Joint venture with Siemens (SY-Systems Technologies)
2003
First Instrument cluster with OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology run into mass production in Europe for Aston Martin
2004
YAZAKI Component Technology SRL in Rumania starts production of Electronic & Instrumentation
2007
YAZAKI Corporation receives award for excellence in family business (by IMD/Switzerland)

