What RAYS does

RAYS Co., Ltd. (株式会社レイズ) is a privately held Japanese limited company founded in 1973 and headquartered in Higashiosaka, Osaka, that designs, engineers, and manufactures high-performance aluminum wheels for the automotive aftermarket and motorsport. The company operates a vertically integrated production model through wholly-owned subsidiaries: RAYS Engineering (forged wheel manufacturing using 10,000-ton and 5,500-ton forging presses plus RM8000 spin forging equipment), RAYS CWP (cast wheel manufacturing using RCF Rim Control Forming and TAF Traditional Aluminum Forming technologies), RAYS R&D (analysis and CAE engineering), RAYS Creative, Maruka Service, and Parts Bank. ISO 9001 certification covers the forging and R&D divisions across headquarters in Osaka, eight factories in Osaka and Nara, and the R&D center.

RAYS sells under eight sub-brands—VOLK RACING (premium forged, including the iconic TE37 series and its 30th anniversary variants), gramLIGHTS (cast performance), VERSUS (European-styled dress-up), VMF (forged, origami-inspired precision), HOMURA (premium cast), TEAM DAYTONA (off-road/4x4), A-LAP (lightweight kei-to-4WD), and RAYS SEASON SELECTION (cast one-piece)—alongside wheel parts (center caps, nuts, bolts, hub rings, valves) and official merchandise. Distribution combines an official online store (shop.rayswheels.co.jp), tiered domestic partner networks (RAYS No.1 SHOP premium partners, 鍛造マイスター/Forged Meister specialists with gold/silver/platinum certifications, permanent RAYS Corner Stores), national tire retailers (Tire-kan, Tire-world Kan Best, Fujiyama, Autobacs, and independent tire shops), and overseas dealers for international markets. The company also supplies racing wheels directly to professional motorsport teams including TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (WEC partnership from 2013, supporting five consecutive double championships and Le Mans victories from 2018–2024), Williams F1 (from 2007), TOM'S (since 1980), NISMO (Le Mans 1991 Mazda 787B), and various SUPER GT teams in GT500/GT300 classes.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in hardware sales of premium forged and cast wheels (high ASPs), parts and accessories, and official gear/apparel—prices are determined by dealer/channel rather than publicly disclosed. Customer segments span automotive enthusiasts (street performance use), motorsport teams and racers, off-road/4x4 drivers, and the vehicle-customization aftermarket. The business employs 51–100 staff, has no public listing, operates offices across Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Takamatsu in Japan (plus RAYS U.S.A., Inc. for North America), and is led by Representative Director Shinjiro Toba (斯波 翔太郎).

Name

RAYS

Legal name

株式会社レイズ

Website

https://rayswheels.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RAYS Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer founded in 1973 that designs and produces high-performance forged and cast aluminum wheels for automotive enthusiasts and motorsport teams, sold under eight sub-brands via a tiered dealer network in Japan and overseas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performance Automotive Wheels

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)

akta.pro primary industry

Wheels & Rims Manufacturing (Steel/Alloy) (IMACAIAJ)

Keywords

• Forged aluminum wheels
• Cast aluminum wheels
• Motorsport racing wheels
• Performance automotive wheels
• Off-road SUV wheels

Headquarters

HQ city

Higashi-osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. High-Performance Wheels: RAYS generates primary revenue from designing, manufacturing, and selling high-performance aluminum wheels under multiple brands including VOLK RACING, gramLIGHTS, VERSUS, VMF, HOMURA, TEAM DAYTONA, and A-LAP. Products range from forged sports wheels to cast wheels for various vehicle types.
2. Wheel Parts & Accessories: Sales of wheel parts including center caps, nuts and bolts, hub rings, valves, maintenance stickers, and import car related parts.
3. Official Gear/Merchandise: RAYS sells official merchandise including stickers, accessories, functional parts, and apparel through their official store.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RAYS designs, engineers, and manufactures high-performance forged and cast aluminum wheels for automotive street and motorsport applications. Its wheel portfolio spans premium forged sports wheels (VOLK RACING), cast sports wheels (gramLIGHTS), dress-up wheels (VERSUS, VMF, HOMURA), off-road wheels (TEAM DAYTONA), and lightweight kei-car-to-4WD wheels (A-LAP), all produced under a Japan-based self-contained system. Complementary offerings include wheel parts (center caps, nuts, hub rings, valves) and official branded merchandise/apparel.

Product overview

RAYS (株式会社レイズ) is a Japanese manufacturer of high-performance aluminum wheels for automotive applications. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio consisting of: VOLK RACING (premium forged wheels derived directly from motorsport technology, including the iconic TE37 series and its 30th anniversary variants), gramLIGHTS (cast sports wheels pushing manufacturing limits for extreme performance), VERSUS (European-styled dress-up wheels for customization enthusiasts), VMF (forged wheels with origami-inspired precision craftsmanship), HOMURA (premium cast wheels balancing beauty and functionality), TEAM DAYTONA (off-road specialized wheels), A-LAP (lightweight-focused wheels for kei cars to 4WD vehicles), and RAYS SEASON SELECTION (cast one-piece wheels with vehicle-specific engineering). Supporting products include wheel parts (center caps, nuts, bolts, hub rings, valves) and RAYS Official Gear merchandise (stickers, accessories, apparel). All products are designed, developed, and manufactured in Japan under a self-contained system (オールレイズ). The company maintains active involvement in motorsport competitions including WEC, SUPER GT, D1GP, and various racing series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOLK RACING: レーシング直系の技術を注いだ鍛造スポーツホイールの最高峰ブランド (Top forged sports wheel brand with racing-derived technology)
• gramLIGHTS
• VERSUS
• VMF
• HOMURA
• TEAM DAYTONA
• A-LAP

Products and services

• VOLK RACING Top-tier forged sports wheel brand that directly inherits RAYS motorsport technology. Features the latest analysis technology for lightweight yet robust construction with a clean silhouette, designed for high-performance vehicles worldwide.
• gramLIGHTS Sports wheel brand pushing the limits of cast manufacturing methods to achieve extreme performance. Incorporates cutting-edge wheel theory with innovative designs and finishes targeting serious sports users.
• VERSUS Brand with latest European-inspired designs for users enjoying wide-range customization. Features deep, rich designs with sophisticated finish work targeting all vehicles seeking quality presence.
• VMF Brand proposing new styles in forged wheels, with origami-quality (折紙つき) precision and elegance inspired by Japanese craftsmanship.
• HOMURA Premium brand maximizing beauty and functionality using RAYS casting technology. Features bold yet refined sculpted beauty for mature sports styling, positioned as 'THE NEXT STANDARD'.
• TEAM DAYTONA Off-road brand proposing styles that break conventions and open new genres. Pursues forms possible only through vehicle-focused design with high functionality and visuals for hardcore off-road use, including SUVs and 4x4 vehicles.
• A-LAP Wheel brand built on the 'as light as possible' concept, offering performance benefits of lightness for everything from kei cars to 4WD vehicles.
• RAYS SEASON SELECTION Cast one-piece wheels designed with in-house engineering for perfect balance of durability, safety, design, lightness, and rigidity in vehicle-specific configurations.
• VOLK RACING TE37 30TH SERIES 30th anniversary special edition based on TE37 SAGA S-plus, TE37 SONIC, and TE37 ultra LARGE P.C.D. Designed with latest manufacturing and analysis technology while paying homage to the original TE37. March 7 officially registered as 'TE37 Day' by the Japan Anniversary Association.
• Wheel Parts (center caps, nuts and bolts, hub rings, air valves, maintenance stickers, import car parts) Complementary wheel parts including standard and optional center caps, nuts and bolts, hub rings, air valves, maintenance stickers, and import car parts supporting RAYS wheel installations.
• RAYS Official Gear (stickers, accessories, functional parts, apparel) Official RAYS branded merchandise including stickers, accessories, functional parts, and apparel sold through the official online store and at events.

Quantifiable outcome

• WEC World Endurance Championship 5 consecutive double titles (2018-2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• TOYOTA Gazoo RacingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013RAYS supplies racing wheels to TOYOTA Gazoo Racing for WEC (World Endurance Championship) participation. This partnership has yielded 5 consecutive double championships (Manufacturers and Drivers titles) from 2018-2024, including 5 consecutive Le Mans 24h victories since 2018.
• Williams F1 TeammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007RAYS supplied wheels to the Williams F1 Team starting in 2007 for Formula 1 competition.
• Various SUPER GT TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAYS supplies wheels to multiple teams in the SUPER GT championship, supporting both GT500 and GT300 class competitors with various championship wins across multiple years.
• TOM'SmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with TOM'S racing team dating back to 1980, supplying VOLK Racing wheels for various championships including Super GT and other motorsport series.
• NISMOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NISMO (Nissan Motorsports) for Le Mans 24h victory in 1991 with Mazda 787B, first overall win by a Japanese manufacturer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vossen Wheels: US aftermarket wheel brand focused on luxury and tuning segments. Competes with RAYS in the premium dress-up/forged aftermarket wheel category targeting modified-car enthusiasts globally.
• Enkei Corporation: Japanese aluminum wheel manufacturer with global scale, offering both OEM and aftermarket wheels. Competes with RAYS in cast and forged segments, particularly in motorsport (Super GT, F1) and performance aftermarket; broader scale and OEM exposure differentiates it.
• BBS Japan / BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik: Premium German/Japanese forged wheel manufacturer and direct competitor. Both produce motorsport-derived aluminum wheels (forged and cast), serve automotive enthusiasts and racing teams (F1, WEC, GT racing), and command premium pricing through heritage brands.
• OZ Racing: Italian premium forged/motorsport wheel manufacturer. Competes in the same motorsport-derived aftermarket wheel category (WEC, GT, F1 supply) and serves global performance-car enthusiasts with comparable premium positioning.
• HRE Performance Wheels: US-based premium forged wheel manufacturer serving supercar and luxury performance segments. Comparable to RAYS in premium positioning and bespoke/forged construction, with strong enthusiast brand recognition in North American and global markets.
• SSR Wheels (Speed Star Racing): Japanese performance wheel brand under Tokyo Auto Parts, with motorsport heritage (Formula Nippon, Super GT). Direct competitor to RAYS in Japanese forged/cast aftermarket wheel segments with comparable enthusiast positioning.
• Work Wheels (Work Co., Ltd.): Japanese wheel manufacturer specializing in multi-piece and forged aftermarket wheels. Competes directly with RAYS in the Japanese tuner/aftermarket wheel space, with comparable product positioning in premium dress-up and motorsport segments.
• Weds Corporation (WedsSport): Japanese wheel manufacturer offering WedsSport performance brands. Direct competitor to RAYS in Japanese aftermarket, overlapping in cast and forged wheels for sports/import/tuner segments.

Emerging players

• ADV.1 Wheels: US-based boutique forged wheel manufacturer targeting exotic and luxury performance segments. Smaller scale than RAYS but comparable premium positioning; competes for share of high-end enthusiast aftermarket.
• Forgeline Motorsports: US manufacturer of custom forged and flow-formed wheels for motorsport and high-end street applications. Comparable in motorsport-derived technology and premium custom wheel positioning, though smaller and more US-centric than RAYS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rayswheels_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RAYSMSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/rayswheels
• Instagraminstagram.com/rayswheels_official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RAYS