HINODE MOTORS CORPORATION
Headquarters: Kitakyushu, Japan
Current President and CEO: Jun Sawamura
No. of employees: 120,000
Area served: Worldwide
Hinode Motors Corporation (Japanese: ヒノデ自動車株式会社) is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Kokura (now Kitakyushu), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded by Akira Sawamura in 1926 as a small repair shop that eventually went on to supply parts to Japanese aircraft, naval, and automotive companies. Hinode was left relatively unscathed after the Second World War and the company continued to supply parts for the occupying Allied forces’ vehicles.
Hinode Motors began to manufacture vehicles in 1949 after buying out a struggling automaker. The company’s first car was the Mahkota, a basic and rugged sedan. In 1951, Hinode began to manufacture the Jimmy 4x4 utility vehicle for the US military to serve in the Korean War. In 1964, Hinode began to export the Mahkota, Coronet, and Jimmy to the US and European markets. Although sales were initially slow, Hinode’s market share grew rapidly following the 1973 oil crisis as consumers searched for more fuel-efficient cars.
By the 1980s, Hinode was expanding. The company opened its first American manufacturing plant in 1982. During his decade, Hinode attempted to update its image by introducing sports and luxury-oriented vehicles into its lineup, resulting in the MR2000 mid-engined coupe, the Phoenix and Garuda grand tourers, and the Lucent luxury sedan.
PASSENGER VEHICLES
Lucent Luxury Sedan
Phoenix Grand Tourer
Garuda Grand Tourer
Mahkota Executive Sedan
Aries MPV
Tempest Executive Sedan
MR2000 Coupe
Coronet Compact Car
Lupin City Car
Jimmy SUV
Rusa MPV
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
Carrier Van