Kanto Auto Works


Kanto Auto Works was a Japanese car manufacturer. It was a member of the Toyota Group. In July 2012, Kanto Auto Works and two other Toyota subsidiaries were merged to form Toyota Motor East Japan.

History

In April 1946, Kanto Auto Works was established in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, as an independent company called Kanto Electric Motor Works which focused on repairing cars, assembling electric vehicles and producing bus bodies. In early 1948, it became a Toyota contractor, producing auto bodies. During its early years, the company also assembled some cars for Toyota. The company also diversified into other products such as yachts and prefabricated homes. In 1950, it adopted the Kanto Auto Works name. In 1960, the company became a permanent car assembler through a new Yokosuka plant. Later, the company replaced Yokosuka for car assembly with the Higashi-Fuji and Iwate plants.
Kanto Auto Works was a public company until 2011 when, following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Toyota announced it would make it a wholly owned subsidiary. On July 1, 2012, Kanto Auto Works and two other Toyota subsidiaries were combined into a single company called Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.

Facilities