After the company profiles of Hella, Valeo, and Automotive Lighting, Driving Vision News is publishing with Koito its fourth global exterior lighting supplier Report.
Koito is a global supplier of front and rear lighting products and considered one of the top 4 exterior lighting suppliers worldwide with Valeo, Hella and AL/Automotive lighting.
The report first presents the history of Koito, their Headquarters, Products, Business, Strategy, Finances.
Detail is provided on R&D/Technologies, Quality, Purchase and Production organization.
The report illustrates their corporate motto “Lighting for Your Safety”, showing how Koito are heavily involved in cutting-edge research, development, manufacturing and trade of advanced lighting systems and components such as AFS, Adaptive Front Lighting Systems, and LED front lighting systems.
Detail is provided on Koito global footprint, with operations strongly centred in Asia and particularly in Japan, well entrenched in North America with their US subsidiary NAL, but suffering comparative weak sales in Europe. Part of major OEMs buy from Koito, including most of car makers in Japan, Ford, General Motors in North America, Audi, Porsche, PSA, Renault in Europe, and Japanese transplants worldwide.
The Group is fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, systems and modules for cars and trucks, both on the original equipment market and the aftermarket.
The company boasts 25 group companies and 3 affiliates, spread across 8 countries, with sites in Asia, Europe and North America.
In fiscal year from April 2008 to March 2009, Koito achieved turnover of about Y400b, roughly 4bUS$, a 15% reduction from one year before at the contrary of precedent years where growth was around 10%.
Koito SWOT are presented, emphasizing the strength of R&D which will allow the company to develop cutting-edge and higher margin products. Also the relatively weak market positions in Europe with insufficient experience are commented.
The report closes with 2 interviews of Mr Goto R&D director, one from March 2009 covering Koito strength in LEDs, and the second from October 2009 commenting 2015 Koito targets on LEDs costs/performance.