10
Documented brands
Suzuki · 1909
Oldest marque
Lexus · 1989
Newest marque
The birthplace of just-in-time manufacturing and the reliability revolution.
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All Japan car brands
Frequently asked questions
- Why are Japanese cars known for reliability?
- Japanese manufacturers pioneered quality-control philosophies such as the Toyota Production System and kaizen (continuous improvement). Decades of refining these processes made durability and low running costs a defining trait of the country's brands.
- What are the luxury divisions of Japanese car brands?
- Several Japanese makers launched dedicated premium marques for export markets — most notably Lexus, Acura and Infiniti — to compete with established European luxury brands while retaining Japanese engineering underneath.
- Which Japanese car brand is the oldest?
- The earliest Japanese marques documented here date to the early 20th century, when domestic engineering firms began building passenger vehicles before the industry's explosive post-war growth.
