Asian Motor Companies in County : Firms Settle in ‘Pacific Motown’
Japanese motorcycle makers were the first Asian motor companies to open distribution and marketing headquarters in Orange County when they came here in the 1960s. Since then, several Asian car companies have made Orange County their American home. Although no cars are made here, one industry analyst describes the county as “Motown on the Pacific.”
The largest Japanese motor companies--Toyota, Nissan and Honda--are in Los Angeles County, where they settled more than 25 years ago. But most of those arriving from Asia in the 1980s have chosen Orange County, citing the availability of land, the attractiveness of the area, the increase of ethnic diversity.
“I’m living where tastes are being set. It’s the perfect place to do my work,” said Hideaki Yoshizawa, executive vice president and general manager of design at Mitsubishi’s Cypress Design Studio.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. Headquarters: Brea Year came to O.C.: 1985 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $1.3 billion O.C. employees: 443 U.S. employees: 644 Space occupied in O.C.: N/A Other facilities in Orange County: parts warehouse, training center. Vehicles are made in Japan. Will open manufacturing plant in Canada in April to build vehicles to be distributed in the United States. U.S. 1988 unit sales by model Sidekick (introduced in September): 3,258 Swift (introduced in October): 524 Samurai: 54,069 Motorcycles, other vehicles: N/A
DAIHATSU AMERICA INC. Headquarters: Los Alamitos Year came to O.C.: 1987 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $80 million O.C. employees: 109 U.S. employees: 120 Space occupied in O.C.: 50,000 sq. ft. Other facilities in Orange County: regional office, central parts warehouse. Vehicles are made in Japan. U.S. 1988 unit sales by model Charade: 11,460
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CORP. Headquarters: Garden Grove Year came to O.C.: 1985 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $2.1 billion O.C. employees: 430 U.S. employees: 590 Space occupied in O.C.: 239,752 sq. ft. Other facilities in Orange County: regional office. Cars made in Korea. U.S. 1988 unit sales by model Excel: 264,282 Sonata: introduced for 1989
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. U.S.A. Headquarters: Irvine Year came to O.C.: 1969 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $700 million O.C. employees: 250 U.S. employees: 350 Space occupied in O.C.: 224,000 sq. ft. Other facilities in Orange County: parts warehouse, regional sales offices, research center. Vehicles made in Japan and in Lincoln, Neb. Company distributes motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, Jet Ski watercraft, utility vehicles. Unit sales not available.
MAZDA MOTOR OF AMERICA INC. Headquarters: Irvine Year came to O.C.: 1987 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $4 billion O.C. employees: 554 U.S. employees: 1,230 Space occupied in O.C.: complex on 44.4 acres Other facilities in Orange County: regional office, service shop, parts warehouse, research center. MX-6 made in Flat Rock, Mich. Other vehicles made in Japan. U.S. 1988 unit sales by model 323: 90,822 626: 66,354 MX-6: 39,362 RX-7: 27,814 929: 25,981 MPV: 5,717 Trucks: 93,287 Total: 349,337
MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF AMERICA INC. Headquarters: Cypress Year came to O.C.: 1983 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $2 billion O.C. employees: 350 U.S. employees: 466 Space occupied in O.C.: 318,000 sq. ft. Other facilities in Orange County: regional sales office, parts warehouse, styling center. Vehicles made in Japan and in Bloomington, Ill. U.S. 1988 unit sales by model Precis: 21,713 Mirage: 11,997 Cordia: 5,919 Tredia: 477 Galant: 13,925 Sigma: 6,700 Starion: 3,016 Wagon: 6,328 Light trucks, vans, sport utility: 43,516 Total: 113,591
YAMAHA MOTOR CORP. U.S.A. Headquarters: Cypress Year came to O.C.: 1968 U.S. 1988 gross sales *: $1.1 billion O.C. employees: 400 U.S. employees: 625 Space occupied in O.C.: 275,000 sq. ft. Other facilities in Orange County: regional office, parts warehouse. Vehicles made in Japan. Company distributes motorcycles, snowmobiles, golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, scooters. Unit sales not available.
Employment excludes manufacturing workers. * Total dollar sales figures are analysts’ estimates of dealer gross sales.
