Clarion Company Ltd. is one of the world's leading producers of in-car entertainment
systems.
The Japanese-based company has for a long time, played a leading in developing
automotive sound and information systems - and claims credit for being first in
the world to place a radio in a car in the 1940s.
Clarion continues to develop and adapt new technologies for in-car use, including
the company's latest line of DVD, television, GPS, and wireless Internet and telephony
products.
Clarion's automotive systems are manufactured and distributed throughout the
world, with 20 manufacturing facilities in Japan, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, the Philippines,
France, Great Britain, Mexico, and the United States, and distribution operations
in more than 50 countries.
While Clarion automotive systems are sold worldwide, the company also produces
a range of home audio and karaoke systems for the domestic Japanese market, as well
as audio and video systems, including rear-view cameras, for busses and boats.
| 1940 December |
Established as Hakusan Wireless Electric Company, began manufacturing
of batteryoperated household radios. |
| 1943 November |
Merged with Takizawa Wireless Electric Industries Co., Ltd., renamed
as Teikoku Dempa Co., Ltd. |
| 1951 February |
Produced Japan's first car radio. |
| 1958 June |
Exported car radios to U.S., creating the base for Japanese car audio
exports. |
| 1959 May |
Car radio receives genuine parts specification from Nissan® Motor.
|
| 1962 August |
Listed on 2nd section of Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
| 1963 October |
Developed Japan's first car stereo, began marketing August of following
year. |
| 1967 September |
Saitama office opened in Toda-shi, Saitama, Japan |
| 1968 March |
Marketed Japan's first cassette car stereo. |
| 1969 August |
Listed on 2nd section of Osaka Stock Exchange. |
| 1970 February |
Upgraded from 2nd to 1st section of Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges.
|
| 1970 April |
Opened head office at Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. |
| 1970 December |
Corporate name changed to Clarion Co., Ltd. |
| 1970 December |
First overseas factory (CM) established as joint venture in Malaysia.
|
| 1975 June |
Started Clarion Girl campaign, with Agnes Lum becoming first grand prix
winner. |
| 1976 August |
Business-use karaoke "Karaoke 8" and cassette editing deck "Dubbing
X" are marketed. |
| 1978 October |
Tohoku office opened in Koriyama-shi, Fukushima, Japan. |
| 1980 November |
Head office moved to Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. |
| 1983 July |
Factory established in France(CF). |
| 1983 November |
Gumma office established in Oura-gun, Gumma-ken. / Manufacturing company
established in Mexico. |
| 1987 July |
CD5000 car CD player marketed. |
| 1989 October |
Manufacturing company established in the Philippines. |
| 1992 February |
Voice-guidance car navigation system NAC-200 is marketed. |
| 1993 April |
Clarion's SS wireless modem clears for the first time the technical
standards set by Japanese government, and is marketed. |
| 1995 January |
Clarion Orient Co. (COC) established in Hong Kong. |
| 1995 April |
ISO-9001 certification obtained for all Clarion establishments in Japan.
|
| 1995 April |
Factory completed in China (DCOE). |
| 1996 May |
VICS-compatible car navigation system marketed |
| 1997 April |
Hamamatsu branch office opened. |
| 1997 October |
Manufacturing company established in Hungary. |
| 1998 January |
Joint development of invehicle personal computer “AutoPC” with Microsoft®
Corp. |
| 1998 December |
“AutoPC™” marketed for the first time in the U.S. |
| 1999 August |
ETC terminal jointly developed with Hitachi. |
| 1999 December |
OEM supply of "AutoPC" to French automaker Citroen® begins. |
| 2000 March |
Founding of Clarion Sales Co., Ltd. |
| 2000 April |
Five Clarion offices in Japan obtain ISO-14001 certification. |
| 2000 December |
HCX Corporation established as joint venture between Clarion, Hitachi®
, and Xanavi Infomatics® |
| 2001 May |
Relocation of Headquarters to Hakusan, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. |
| 2001 August |
Start of Clarion Scholarship "MEDAMA". |
| 2001 October |
In-vehicle terminal for ETC system marketed. |
| 2001 November |
"AutoPC CADIAS™" exhibited at Tokyo Motor Show. |
| 2002 March |
Sales of Satellite radio receiver in North America. |
| 2002 September |
Relocation of Headquarters to Toda-shi, Saitama prefecture functions
moved to Toda City, Saitama prefecture. |
| 2002 October |
Clarion M&L established. |
| 2002 December |
Launched "AutoPC CADIAS™", the first in-vehicle PC in Japan. |
| 2003 August |
Started delivering Car Audio to GM® Shanghai, China. |
| 2003 October |
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) equipped AV car navigation system, compatible
with “Car Wings” of Nissan® Information Service. |
| 2004 February |
The world’s first Linux, Java™ J2ME CDC equipped in-vehicle information
terminal for commercial vehicles marketed. |
| 2004 June |
The industry’s first 2DIN commercial sized, 7-inch monitor equipped
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) AV car navigation system marketed. |
| 2005 January |
First iPod® compatible AV center unit marketed in the US. |
| 2005 March |
AV-HDD car navigation developed for all models for Porsche Japan.
|
| 2005 May |
First iPod® compatible integrated AV-HDD Navigation unit developed for
the Japanese market. |
| 2006 June |
Car navigation introduced for first time in China and N. American markets.
|
| 2006 July |
Launched “Movieum”, Japan’s largest-scale travel and driving information
website with video clips showing travel destinations. |
| 2006 December |
Became a Hitachi group company. |
| 2007 January |
Xanavi Informatics Corporation became 100% subsidiary. |
| 2007 January |
Supplied car audio to Toyota for the first time (contracted by Daihatsu)
|
| 2007 April |
Clarion’s first portable navigation system for Japan, DrivTraxP5 marketed.
|
| 2007 April |
Bus location ASP service started. |
| 2007 July |
Compact drive recorder “Drive Eye” marketed. |
| 2007 August |
Relocated our Headquarters to Saitama, Shintoshin. New facility named
“Corporate Headquarters & Technology Center”. |