Autobacs Seven

{{short description|Japanese automotive retailer}} {{Infobox company | name = Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. | native_name = 株式会社オートバックスセブン | native_name_lang = ja | romanized_name = ''Kabushiki-gaisha Ōtobakkusu Sebun'' | logo = Autobacs.png | former_names = Suehiro Shokai (1947–1980) | type = [[public company|Public]] [[Kabushiki gaisha|KK]] | foundation = February 1947 (incorporated on August 12, 1948) | traded_as = {{TYO|9832}} | founder = Toshio Sumino | location = Toyosu, [[Koto, Tokyo|Koto]], [[Tokyo]], Japan | area_served = | key_people = Yoshio Kobayashi <small>([[President (corporate title)|President]], [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]] & [[General Manager]])</small> | industry = [[Retail]] | brands = {{plainlist| * Autobacs * Super Autobacs }} | genre = | products = {{plainlist| * [[Car|Automobiles]] * Automotive parts }} | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/index.html|www.autobacs.co.jp}} | footnotes = | vector_logo = | defunct = | slogan = }}

{{nihongo|'''Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社オートバックスセブン|[[Kabushiki-gaisha]] Ōtobakkusu Sebun}} ({{tyo|9832}}) is a [[retail]]er of [[Automotive industry|automotive]] parts and accessories based in [[Japan]], with branches primarily in [[Asia]] and stores also located in [[France]]. [[Image:Super Autobacs Nagoya Bay.JPG|thumb|right|Super Autobacs in Nagoya]]

==Etymology== Autobacs was given a [[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.<ref>[http://www.autobacs.co.jp/ja/ir/faq.html Autobacs Seven FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928150703/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/ja/ir/faq.html |date=2017-09-28 }} {{in lang|ja}}</ref>

==History== Autobacs was founded by Toshio Sumino in 1947 in [[Fukushima-ku, Osaka|Fukushima-ku]], [[Osaka]] as '''Suehiro Shokai Co., Ltd.''', which was reorganized into '''Fuji Shokai Co., Ltd.''' a year later.<ref name=":0" />

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]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}

In 1974, the first of the Autobacs stores, the "Autobacs Higashi Osaka Store", was opened in [[Daitō, Osaka|Daitō]], Osaka. The following year, Autobacs would run its first [[Franchising|franchisee]] store, the "Autobacs Hakodate [[Nakamichi]] Store" in [[Hakodate]], [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidō]]. In 1977, Autobacs would start to develop and sell its own [[motor oil]] and [[Tire|tires]] 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.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url= http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/enkaku_en.html | website= Autobacs Seven | title= History | access-date= 2016-05-13 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160423073518/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/enkaku_en.html | archive-date= 2016-04-23 | url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/company_video_en.html | website= Autobacs Seven | title= Company Information Video | access-date= 2016-05-13 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160604045512/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/company/company_video_en.html | archive-date= 2016-06-04 | url-status= dead }}</ref> The company's name was officially changed from Fuji Shokai to Autobacs in March of 1980.<ref name=":0" />

On 11 July 2005, Autobacs entered a collaboration agreement with UK retailer [[Halfords]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=539| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004607/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=539| archive-date= 2007-09-28| title=Announcement of Collaboration Agreement with Halfords Group plc| publisher=[[Autobacs Seven Co.]]| access-date = 2007-06-05}}</ref> On 13 December 2005, Autobacs acquired 5% of the company (11,400,000 shares) at approximately ¥7.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=590| title= Announcement of Acquisition of Stocks of Halfords Group plc| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004621/http://www.autobacs.co.jp/seven_e/release/news.php?id=590| archive-date= 2007-09-28 | publisher= [[Autobacs Seven Co.]]| access-date = 2007-06-05}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, specialty car manufacturer [[Tommykaira]] ran into financial difficulties as a result of the [[Lost Decades|Lost Decade]]. 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.

[[File:Autobacs lobby.jpg|thumb|Autobacs Bar lobby ([[Roppongi]], Tokyo) featuring an Autobacs Garaiya GT300 and the 1969 Carman-Apache]] The first car planned to be produced by ASL was the [[ASL Garaiya|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]], with an output of around {{Convert|180|hp|kW|abbr=unit}} from a [[Nissan]] [[Nissan SR engine#SR20VE|SR20VE]] engine and a weight of approximately {{Convert|900|kg|lb|abbr=unit}}.<ref name="Auto Express">[http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/36111/autobacs_garaiya_rs01.html Autobacs Garaiya RS01 First Drive], Auto Express</ref> Customers would take part in the final development of their car's suspension to tailor it to their preferences or driving style.<ref name="Auto Express" />

A modified Garaiya was fielded in the GT300 class of [[Super GT]] from 2003 through 2012 by [[Autobacs Racing Team Aguri]], a team formed by Autobacs and Japanese former F1 driver [[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 [[Tommykaira ZZII|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 [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]-spec racing car with a road version and a target weight of {{Convert|1000|kg|lb|abbr=unit}}.<ref name="YouTube">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaE7BbkyV24 Video and description of the 2000 Tommykaira ZZII] YouTube</ref> The prototype was fitted with a modified [[Nissan RB engine#RB26DETT|RB26DETT]] engine producing {{Convert|542|hp|kW|abbr=unit}} and also featured the [[Nissan Skyline GT-R#Fifth generation (1999–2002)|R34 Skyline GT-R]]'s [[ATTESA]] [[ATTESA#E-TS_Pro|E-TS Pro]] [[all-wheel drive]] system.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.autobacs.co.jp/en/index.html}}

[[Category:Retail companies established in 1947]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1947]] [[Category:Japanese companies established in 1947]] [[Category:Car manufacturers of Japan]] [[Category:Auto parts suppliers of Japan]] [[Category:Automotive part retailers]] [[Category:Sports car manufacturers]] [[Category:Midori-kai]] [[Category:Retail companies based in Tokyo]] [[Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]] [[Category:Kōtō]]