# Autobacs Seven

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Japanese automotive retailer

Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. Native name 株式会社オートバックスセブン Romanized name Kabushiki-gaisha Ōtobakkusu Sebun Formerly Suehiro Shokai (1947–1980) Type Public KK Traded as TYO: 9832 Industry Retail Founder Toshio Sumino Key people Yoshio Kobayashi (President, CEO & General Manager) Products Automobiles Automotive parts Brands Autobacs Super Autobacs

**Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd.** (株式会社オートバックスセブン, *[Kabushiki-gaisha](/source/Kabushiki-gaisha) Ōtobakkusu Sebun*) ([TYO](/source/Tokyo_Stock_Exchange): [9832](https://www2.jpx.co.jp/tseHpFront/StockSearch.do?callJorEFlg=1&method=topsearch&topSearchStr=9832)) is a [retailer](/source/Retail) of [automotive](/source/Automotive_industry) parts and accessories based in [Japan](/source/Japan), with branches primarily in [Asia](/source/Asia) and stores also located in [France](/source/France).

Super Autobacs in Nagoya

## Etymology

Autobacs was given a [backronym](/source/Backronym) as follows, which reflects the products the company provided prior to its renaming to Autobacs in 1980:

- **AUTO**: **A**ppeal, **U**nique, **T**ire, **O**il

- **BACS**: **B**attery, **A**ccessory, **C**ar electronics, **S**ervice

"Seven" in the company name is said to reflect Autobacs's philosophy of searching for seventh products for customers.[1]

## History

Autobacs was founded by Toshio Sumino in 1947 in [Fukushima-ku](/source/Fukushima-ku%2C_Osaka), [Osaka](/source/Osaka) as **Suehiro Shokai Co., Ltd.**, which was reorganized into **Fuji Shokai Co., Ltd.** a year later.[2]

In 1960, Sumino opened the Fuji Drive Shop, Japan's first large-scale automotive goods store, and in 1969 he became involved in motorsport sponsorship by sponsoring a car in the [Japanese Grand Prix](/source/Japanese_Grand_Prix).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 1974, the first of the Autobacs stores, the "Autobacs Higashi Osaka Store", was opened in [Daitō](/source/Dait%C5%8D%2C_Osaka), Osaka. The following year, Autobacs would run its first [franchisee](/source/Franchising) store, the "Autobacs Hakodate [Nakamichi](/source/Nakamichi) Store" in [Hakodate](/source/Hakodate), [Hokkaidō](/source/Hokkaido). In 1977, Autobacs would start to develop and sell its own [motor oil](/source/Motor_oil) and [tires](/source/Tire) to be sold in its own stores. At the end of the decade, Autobacs opened its 100th store, and in 1984 opened its 200th store.[2][3] The company's name was officially changed from Fuji Shokai to Autobacs in March of 1980.[2]

On 11 July 2005, Autobacs entered a collaboration agreement with UK retailer [Halfords](/source/Halfords).[4] On 13 December 2005, Autobacs acquired 5% of the company (11,400,000 shares) at approximately ¥7.5 billion.[5]

### ASL

ASL Garaiya front, with doors open

ASL Garaiya rear

In the late 1990s, specialty car manufacturer [Tommykaira](/source/Tommykaira) ran into financial difficulties as a result of the [Lost Decade](/source/Lost_Decades). In 2001, it was acquired by Autobacs, which renamed its car manufacturing arm **ASL** (Autobacs Sportscar Laboratory), thus allowing the aftermarket parts manufacturer to continue trading with its usual name.

Autobacs Bar lobby ([Roppongi](/source/Roppongi), Tokyo) featuring an Autobacs Garaiya GT300 and the 1969 Carman-Apache

The first car planned to be produced by ASL was the [Garaiya](/source/ASL_Garaiya). As none were sold, there is not much known about ASL nor the Garaiya, only that it is a small sports car based on the [Tommykaira ZZ](/source/Tommykaira_ZZ), with an output of around 180 hp (130 kW) from a [Nissan](/source/Nissan) [SR20VE](/source/Nissan_SR_engine#SR20VE) engine and a weight of approximately 900 kg (2,000 lb).[6] Customers would take part in the final development of their car's suspension to tailor it to their preferences or driving style.[6]

A modified Garaiya was fielded in the GT300 class of [Super GT](/source/Super_GT) from 2003 through 2012 by [Autobacs Racing Team Aguri](/source/Autobacs_Racing_Team_Aguri), a team formed by Autobacs and Japanese former F1 driver [Aguri Suzuki](/source/Aguri_Suzuki). After the Super GT rule changes in 2012 that prohibited low-volume production cars from entering races, the Garaiya is no longer able to race in the series.

Similarly, the Garaiya RS01 (also known as simply the RS01) was a second attempt at the [ZZII](/source/Tommykaira_ZZII), which was to be a larger and faster accompaniment to the ZZ with a variety of engines ranging from 2.0 to 3.5 litres to fit various racing regulations, as it was designed to be an [FIA](/source/F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration_Internationale_de_l'Automobile)-spec racing car with a road version and a target weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).[7] The prototype was fitted with a modified [RB26DETT](/source/Nissan_RB_engine#RB26DETT) engine producing 542 hp (404 kW) and also featured the [R34 Skyline GT-R](/source/Nissan_Skyline_GT-R#Fifth_generation_(1999–2002))'s [ATTESA](/source/ATTESA) [E-TS Pro](/source/ATTESA#E-TS_Pro) [all-wheel drive](/source/All-wheel_drive) system.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Autobacs Seven FAQ](http://www.autobacs.co.jp/ja/ir/faq.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170928150703/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/ja/ir/faq.html) 2017-09-28 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (in Japanese)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) ["History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160423073518/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/enkaku_en.html). *Autobacs Seven*. Archived from [the original](http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/enkaku_en.html) on 2016-04-23. Retrieved 2016-05-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Company Information Video"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160604045512/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/company_video_en.html). *Autobacs Seven*. Archived from [the original](http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/company_video_en.html) on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2016-05-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Announcement of Collaboration Agreement with Halfords Group plc"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004607/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=539). [Autobacs Seven Co.](/source/Autobacs_Seven_Co.) Archived from [the original](http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=539) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Announcement of Acquisition of Stocks of Halfords Group plc"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004621/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=590). [Autobacs Seven Co.](/source/Autobacs_Seven_Co.) Archived from [the original](http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=590) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-05.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Auto_Express_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Auto_Express_6-1) [Autobacs Garaiya RS01 First Drive](http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/36111/autobacs_garaiya_rs01.html), Auto Express

1. **[^](#cite_ref-YouTube_7-0)** [Video and description of the 2000 Tommykaira ZZII](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaE7BbkyV24) YouTube

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/index.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Autobacs Seven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobacs_Seven) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobacs_Seven?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.