Toyota Motor Company is a Japanese automaker that makes a variety of different types of vehicles, including motorcycles. They also own four-1/2 percent of the Yamaha Motor Company. They have a long history of collaboration, and their engine is the 3S-GE inline-four engine that is used in the Toyota MR2, Celica, and Rav4 today. Toyota also used to make motorcycles in the past, through a subsidiary of the company known as Toyo Motors. The motorcycle division of Toyota is currently focused on mobility projects, such as electric scooters, and their iROAD electric vehicle.
Toyo Motors
Toyo Motors began making clip-on 2 stroke engines for bicycle frames after WWII. Its founder, Kawamoto Kazuo, was a professional Harley-Davidson rider and engine developer before joining Toyota Industries in 1946. Toyo Motors sold engine kits and complete motorcycles under the toyomotaHao brand name. Although the company was a subsidiary of Toyota, it maintained a separate identity.
Honda
While most Americans think of motorcycles made by Japanese companies, Honda makes some in the United States as well. The company has a history of producing motorcycles in the United States, and it has been a top supplier of them since 1946. The company produces more than 20 million motorcycles a year, with a global market share of more than 2%. But how does a Japanese company make them? And how can American consumers support them?
Yamaha
The history of Yamaha motorcycles dates back to 1955. The company was originally a division of the Yamaha Corporation. It is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. Today, Yamaha makes more than one hundred motorcycles in more than twenty different models. The Yamaha brand has become one of the most popular in the world. With over two million units sold worldwide, Yamaha has become one of the most successful companies in the motorcycle industry.
Suzuki
If you’re interested in buying a Suzuki motorcycle, you may not realize that it has been in business for over 50 years. The Japanese manufacturer has a long history of building high-quality motorcycles. But before the company began importing motorcycles to the U.S., it made weaving looms. And in 1961, the company won the 50cc class of the Isle of Man TT, proving the quality of its motorcycles. In 1963, Suzuki opened a subsidiary in Los Angeles, aiming to reach new consumers in the United States.
Nissan
The Nissan Motor Company is known for making four-wheeled vehicles, but it is not quite ready to venture into the world of two-wheeled vehicles. However, it has recently taken over the DeltaWing project, which was a failed effort to design a replacement race car for the IndyCar. The DeltaWing sought to push the boundaries of light weight, aerodynamic, and efficient vehicle design. The results were promising.