Where responsibility belongs in business

Inspiring Vision built on Strong Tradition

  Automotive Timeline of success

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)

 Family Business Award