Yokohama City’s unique qualities and location make it an extremely attractive destination for doing business in Japan, leading to many domestic and international companies taking notice and establishing locations in the quickly-developing bay area. This is especially visible within the automobile industry: 13 of the world’s top 30 automotive suppliers* have established R&D bases in Yokohama, Japan, leading to a cumulative expansion of the industry within the city.
Among Yokohama’s qualities, particularly lauded by local businesses has been the ease of access to international airports and train stations with Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stops, the comfortable yet internationally-influenced living environment friendly and familiar to both foreign and domestic workers, substantially cheaper rent prices than within the Tokyo city-center, and the city’s active support for new technology/product development and business matching between universities and private corporations. These qualities contribute to Yokohama’s favorable business environment and, combined with the city’s active promotional efforts, have been leading factors in 7 global automotive and auto-related companies like Ducati Japan and Polaris Japan (full list below) deciding over the first semester of 2019 to locate in Yokohama.
Yokohama City seeks to continue to boost the city’s economy by promoting the “Innovation City Yokohama” initiative, and increase participation in the city’s business networks like the “ITOP Yokohama” innovation platform.
Automobile- and Motorcycle-related Companies establishing in Yokohama
| Company | Headquarters | Summary | Operations Start |
| Polaris Japan | USA | Snowmobiles, Indian Motorcycles, Timbersled products and associated parts, apparel importation, wholesale-related business and services | April 2019 |
| Suiso (H2) Power | Japan | Design and development of hydroelectricity and hydrogen fuel cells, silicon tank development | June 2019 |
| AB Dynamics | England | Providing integrated test and support services to the global automotive industry | September 2019 |
| NBHX (Ningbo Huaxiang Group) | China | Providing vehicle interiors and exteriors, metal parts, automotive electronics and other related products and services | October 2019 |
| Ducati Japan | Italy | Transportation and sales of motorcycles and related parts/accessories/apparel products; motorcycle maintenance/repair | November 2019 |
| HSK (Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho) | Japan | Manufacture/contract manufacture and sales of molds, machine and aircraft parts, and metal products; processing of automotive press parts, sensor parts, and automobile parts | January 2020 (Planned) |
| Nexteer | USA | Manufacture and support of auto parts and auto-related parts | April 2020 (Planned) |
*Top global automotive companies in Yokohama (see image above)
① Bosch
② Magna Steyr Japan
③ Continental
④⑤ ZF Japan
⑥ Adient
⑦ Faurecia Japan
⑧ Schaeffler Japan
⑨ Sumitomo Electric Industries
⑩ Panasonic
⑪Autoliv
⑫⑬ Tenneco Japan
⑭ Manye Marelli Japan
⑮ Borg Warner
Learn more:
WHY Yokohama? – Reasons why Yokohama could be right for your business
