is a manufacturer of high-performance automotive,

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

and outboard suspension systems based in Gyoda, Saitama in Japan. Showa Corporation Head Office

The company was founded in 1938 as Showa Aircraft Precision Works. In Japan's drive to develop its military capability in preparation fo
World War II
Showa supplied

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...

suspension and landing systems to various aircraft manufacturers. Banned from developing or manufacturing aircraft systems after the war, Showa entered the car components industry, using its aircraft knowledge to develop specialist suspension products for motorcycles made by the new company

Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...

. The relationship between Showa and Honda developed over the years, with

Honda Racing Corporation Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) is a division of the Honda, Honda Motor Company formed in 1982. The company combines participation in Motorcycle racing, motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of racing machines. Its racing act ...

accounting for more than 50% of Showa's business. In 1950 Showa acquired

Rikuo Motorcycle was one of the first motorcycle manufacturing companies in Japan. In the early 1930s Rikuo operated under the license and name of Harley-Davidson, using their tooling, and later under the name Rikuo until 1958. Harley-Davidson themselves did no ...

, which made licensed versions of

Harley Davidson Harley may refer to: People * Harley (given name) * Harley (surname) Places * Harley, Ontario, a township in Canada * Harley, Brant County, Ontario, Canada * Harley, Shropshire, England * Harley, South Yorkshire, England * Harley Street, in Lo ...

motorcycles in the 1930s and 1940s. Rikuo brand lasted until 1962. Showa has since become OEM supplier to Harley Davidson. Showa has overseas facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Vietnam. Showa was an official

IndyCar Series The IndyCar Series, currently known as the NTT IndyCar Series under sponsorship, is the highest class of regional North American open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars in the United States, which has been conducted under the auspices of ...

shock absorber supplier from 2007 to 2011. Showa remained

shock absorber supplier since 2012 but only for

-powered teams. In October 2019, Showa began to be merged into Hitachi Automotive Systems as their supplier of steering and suspension components, along with Keihin and Nissin Kogyo, also partners of both Honda and Hitachi. The merger was completed in January 2021, with the resulting parts supplier known as

Hitachi Astemo () is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Nissan ''zaibatsu'' and later DKB Group and Fuyo Gr ...

(Japanese). The Showa brand continues to be used within this structure.

References

External links

Official site
Auto parts suppliers of Japan Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Companies based in Saitama Prefecture Manufacturing companies established in 1938 Japanese brands {{motorvehicle-company-stub Motorcycle parts manufacturers Japanese companies established in 1938

See also

References

External links