Makita - History of Makita

1910 ~ 1969

1915: Founded Makita Electric Works (proprietorship) in Nagoya, Aichi. Began selling and repairing lighting equipment, motors, and transformers.
1935: First exported electric generators and motors to the Soviet Union
1938: Incorporated the proprietorship’s business form and established Makita Electric Works, Inc.
1945: Moved the plant, in an attempt to avoid air raid, to the current head office in Sumiyoshi-Cho, Anjo-City.
1958: Started marketing portable electric planers, the first product in Japan.
1959: Transformed into an electric power tool manufacturer.; Initiated exports of electric power tools with shipment of 1300 hand-held electric planers to Australia.
1960: Finished construction of new main plant.
1962: Changed the trade name to Makita Electric Works, Ltd.; Went public and listed the company in the 2nd Section of Nagoya Stock Exchange.
1963: Became an entirely debt-free company.
1965: Celebrated 50th anniversary.
1968: Listed the company in the 2nd Section of Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
1969: 6500D battery-powered drill (first rechargeable power tool).

1970: Designated to the 1st Section of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
(Osaka listing terminated in February 2003); Established Makita U.S.A. Inc (in the United States); Established a new facility, Okazaki Plant.
1971: Established Makita France S.A. (in France) (changed the name to Makita France SAS April 2004)
1972: Established Makita Electric (U.K.) Ltd. (in the United Kingdom)
(changed the name to Makita (U.K.) Ltd. December 1992)
1973: Established Makita (Australia) Pty. Ltd. (in Australia); Listed on Amsterdam Stock Exchange using Continental Depositary Receipts (CDR)
(Amsterdam listing terminated in February 2004); Established Makita Power Tools Canada Ltd. (in Canada)
(changed the name to Makita Canada Inc. January 1991)
1974: Established Makita Benelux B.V. (in the Netherlands)
(changed the name to Makita Nederland B.V. January 2010); Established Makita S.p.A. (in Italy)
1976: Raised capital overseas for the first time, through CDR offering.
1977: Started trading of American Depository Receipt on NASDAQ.
NASDAQ listing terminated in April 2013）; Established Makita S.A. Makita N.V. (in Belgium); Established Makita Werkzeug GmbH (in Germany)
1978: Launched 6010D rechargeable drill (first nickel cadmium battery tool).

1981: Launched AN5000 pneumatic nailer and AC6001 air compressor (first air tools).; Established Makita Brasil Ferramentas Elétricas Ltda. (in Brazil)
(Started production of power tools in South America.); Established Makita Werkzeug Gesellschaft m.b.H. (in Austria)
1982: Issued European Depositary Receipts (EDR) and listed on Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
(Luxembourg listing terminated in June 1998)
1983: Established Makita Power Tools Singapore Ltd. (in Singapore)
(changed the name to Makita Singapore Pte.Ltd. April 1991); Started production of power tools in Canada.
1984: Established Makita Corporation of America (in the United States)
1985: Started production of power tools in the United States.
1986: Established Joyama Kaihatsu Ltd. (Toyokawa, Aichi)
1987: Power tools became subject to retaliatory tariffs due to semiconductor market trade friction between U.S. and Japan.
1988: Established Makita (Taiwan) Ltd.
1989: Established Makita Espana S.A. (in Spain)
(changed the name to Makita, S.A. November 1991); Changed the year end from February 20 to March 31.; Three power tools (circular saw, grinder, drill) designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro exhibited at the Word Design Exposition held in Nagoya City.; Established Makita Manufacturing Europe Ltd. (in the United Kingdom)

1991: Acquired Sachs Dolmar GmbH, chain saw manufacturer. (in Germany)
(changed the name to Dolmar GmbH September 1991); Introduced corporate identity (CI) program.; Changed the name to Makita Corporation.; Started production of power tools in Europe (U.K)
1992: Anti-dumping suit filed against Makita in U.S.; Established Makita Power Tools (HK) Ltd. (in Hong Kong)
1993: Sponsored Japan tour by the MR. BIG rock band from the U.S.; Established Makita (New Zealand) Ltd. (in New Zealand); Established Makita (China) Co., Ltd. (in China)
1994: Established Makita Sp.zo.o. (in Poland); Established Makita Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (in Mexico)
1995: Established Makita International Europe Ltd. (in the United Kingdom); Established Makita, spol.sr.o (in Czech Republic); Started production of power tools in China.
1996: Established Makita Elektromos Kisgépértékesítö Kft. (in Hungary)
1997: Established Makita Gulf FZE. (in the United Arab Emirates); 6213D rechargeable driver-drill exhibited at the Chicago Hardware Show (first nickel hydride battery tool).
1998: Established Makita Herramientas Ele´ctricas de Argentina S.A. (in Argentina)
1999: Established Makita Chile Comercial Ltda. (in Chile); Established Makita Hellas S.A. (in Greece)

2000: Established Makita Romania S.R.L. (in Romania); Established Makita SA (in Switzerland); Established Makita (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. (in China)
2001: Established Makita Latin America Inc. (in the United States); Established Makita Oy (in Finland)
2002: Launched the 2nd brand MAKTEC specifically for the Asian market.
2003: Finished construction of new corporate headquarters.; Established Makita LLC. (in Russia)
2004: Established Makita s.r.o. (in Slovakia)
2005: Launched TD130D (first Lithium-ion Battery tool).; Celebrated 90th anniversary.; Established Makita EU S.R.L. (in Romania); Established Makita Ukraine LLC.
2006: Acquired nailer business from Kanematsu-NNK Corp.; Established Makita Peru S.A. (in Peru)
2007: Started production of power tools in Romania.; Made Fuji Robin Industries Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary.
(changed the name to Makita Numazu Corporation August 2007, merged into the Company April 2013)
2008: Established Makita Bulgaria EOOD (in Bulgaria); Established Makita Power Tools India Private Ltd. (in India); Established Makita Colombia, S.A. (in Colombia); Established Makita Africa s.a.r.l.a.u. (in Morocco)
2009: Established Makita Vietnam Co., Ltd. (in Vietnam)

2011: Established Makita Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (in Thailand); Established Makita d.o.o. (in Slovenia)
2012: Started production of power tools in Thailand.
2013: Established Makita Power Tools (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (in Malaysia); Masahiko Goto became Chairman and Shiro Hori became President.; Established Makita Europe N.V. (in Belgium)
2014: Established Makita Kazakhstan LLP (in Kazakhstan)
2015: Celebrated 100th anniversary