Kimura

Kimura logo and headquarter building

**Kimura Motor Co., Ltd.** (Japanese: キムラ技研工業 Hepburn: Kimura Giken Kōgyō KK, IPA: ['kimɯɾa], English: /kImʊrɑ/) is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 2015, Kimura produced nearly 2.5 million cars for global sales, with about 1.2 million produced in Japanese factories and roughly 400,000 produced in American factories.

## History

### **Hokkaido Motor Corporation**

Kimura began as the Hokkaido Motor Company in Sapporo, Japan, 14 November 1946. The company was lead by young engineer Kesago Kimura, originally intended to be a small engine producer for mopeds. The first production automobile from Honda was the T360 mini pick-up truck, which went on sale in August 1963.

Other vehicles branded under the Hokkaido Motor Corporation name were the VX off-road vehicle and K1200-C sports car.

### **Kimura Motor Co., Ltd.**

In 1962, Hokkaido Motor Corporation changed their name to Kimura Motor Co., Ltd. to pay homage to the original founder of the brand, Kesage Kimura. During this time, the now-Kimura would begin global exports out of Japan with the Kimura Auburn in 1964. Designed as a replacement for the Type-1 as a more upscale alternative, the Auburn was equipped with a larger 1.2 liter engine and body. Initial reception was positive, even in American and European markets. The model was stylish and fuel efficient, beginning the first expansion of the Kimura brand.

### **Financial Crisis**

By 1971, Kimura faced financial difficulties; of their three models, only the Auburn turned a profit. Japanese media reported in 1971 and 1972 that Kimura was at risk of hostile takeover from Hokuto, who had recently been proclaimed as the world's largest producer of internal combustion engines. Kimura discontinued the K2400-C in 1972 and the VX in 1973, citing cost-cutting in light of the takeover threat from Hokuto.

### **Foreign Expansion**

In wake of the 1973 oil crisis, lucrative customers in the North American market began turning to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Kimura's sales rose rapidly with people turning to Japanese automobiles for their reliability, affordability, and low running costs. Kimura was able to turn enough profit to introduce the Eminence in 1975, a Japan-exclusive luxury sedan, which quickly gained a reputation for high status.

Over the next few decades, Kimura would continue to grow, with more and more models introduced and sold, including the mid-size Auriga in 1979, subcompact Avina in 1986, and large Akitos in 1988. Following the death of Kesago Kimura and the departure of CEO Asahi Hirayama, Kimura found itself quickly being outpaced in product development by other Japanese automakers and was caught off-guard by the truck and sport utility vehicle boom of the 1990s, all which took a toll on the profitability of the company. Kimura's introduction of large utility vehicles such as the Devorak in 1987, KT-U in 1981, and 1990 Arctos minivan was successful, but did not offset the continued demand for crossover SUV's. It took 4 years for Kimura to engineer the 2001 Cavatina, which quickly became one of the marque's top sellers.

Fumiko Akira became the first woman to hold Chairman position in a major Japanese car manufacturer in 2009 at the age of 46.

The early 2010's Kimura's first foray into producing their own Kei cars since the early 1990s; the K-UBRIK was introduced in 2014 to critical acclaim in Japan.

In 2016, Kimura announced that they would focus on developing gasoline-powered vehicles coupled with hybrid technologies for the future of the company.

## Leadership

* Kesago Kimura (1946-1981)
* Takeo Iwashima (1981-1989)
* Seishirou Takagi (1989-1992)
* Kunitaro Ikeda (1992-2003)
* Kazuya Tamura (2003-2009)
* Fumiko Akira (2009-present)

## Global Sales Figures

 2014
 2015
 2016
 2017

## Motorsports

### **Kimura Ralliart Division and Rallying**

In 1984, KImura created the Kimura Ralliart Division in order to create competitive vehicles in the evergrowing Group B rally segment. By 1985, the Kimura Auburn R4-B was created. With a turbocharged 20-Valve 1.8-liter inline-4, F4 layout, and the capability to produce upwards of 500 horsepower, the Auburn R4-B became a one-hit wonder of Group B before the motorsport shut down for good.

### **Le Mans**

After attempting rallying, Kimura decided to focus racing efforts on Le Mans, entering the sport in Group C with the GR-01 in 1987. Whilst winning a podium spot by 1989 with the GR-01, piloted by Joseph Alfani, Kimura decided to pull out of Le Mans in 1992 until re-entering in 2011 with the LMP1 prototype GR-02, powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.5-Liter V8. Whilst Kimura has been able to pull strongly, they have been unable to defeat tough competition from Porsche and Audi, even with the GR-03 introduced in 2014 with a more powerful 2.0L V6+Hybrid and GR-04 in 2016 with a 3.0L V10+Hybrid. Kimura has announced that it will not be participating in LMP1 for the 2018 racing season.

### **Formula 1**

In 2004, Kimura debuted as an engine supplier for Formula 1, showing considering success in the sport with multiple Grand Prix wins.

Kimuras are a common sight and have seen considerable success at Touring Car racing events, spec-racing events, rallying, drag racing, and drift racing.

## Marketing

Kimura previously has used multiple advertising slogans throughout the span of it's existence. From the beginning of exportation (1960s to late 1970s) Kimura used the slogan "Practical, Pleasing, Perfect." In the 1980s, Kimura used "Designed through art, engineered by technology." During Kimura's largest expansion period (Early 1990s to early 2000s), the advertising campaign was focused around "Making memories, mile by mile," with the newfound focus on performance and driving pleasure. A shift in the 2000s changed the main premise slightly, with the tagline changed to "The Paramount Machine," then to "Empowering Souls" in the early 2010s.