SBT Company

What SBT Company does

SBT Company (legal entity SBT CO., LTD., DBA SBT Japan) is a Yokohama-headquartered used vehicle exporter founded in January 1993. The company operates a digital-first marketplace listing 293,626 vehicles sourced from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, China, the UK, and the UAE, and an online auction bidding platform providing registered customers access to approximately 150,000 vehicles weekly across USS, TAA, CAA, AUCNET, and tender auctions, with SBT's buyers able to bid on their behalf. Supporting services include a vehicle inspection system with yard and auction inspectors, chassis verification, damage condition reporting, and car tracking during shipment.

SBT monetizes through one-time vehicle sales priced from roughly $1,000 to over $100,000 per unit, freight charges for international shipping paid via Telegraphic Transfer, and the optional Global Protection Program (GPP) freight insurance. Customers transact through a self-serve e-commerce platform with multilingual support (English, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Swahili, French, Mongolian) and four currencies (JPY, USD, GBP, EUR), supplemented by 24/7 phone and WhatsApp inside-sales support. Regional sub-brands handle destination-specific compliance for Oceania Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, with 32 overseas offices enabling door-to-door delivery to 152 countries. The platform serves individual car buyers as the primary segment, alongside car dealers and fleet operators, with 4,000+ customer reviews and an 80% repeat purchase rate.

The company holds a Secondhand Dealer License from the Kanagawa Prefectural Public Safety Commission and relies on shipping carrier partnerships (Autohub, Dolphin Shipping, Armacup, Campbell Shipping, Pacific Agencies/Swire, Carpenters Shipping/Kyowa) and destination-side compliance referrals. As of September 2023 headcount stood between 1,001 and 5,000 across the Yokohama headquarters, the Noda yard in Chiba, and overseas offices. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors are disclosed.

Name

SBT Company

Legal name

SBT CO., LTD.

Website

https://sbtjapan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

SBT Japan is a Yokohama-based used car export company operating an online marketplace and auction bidding platform, exporting Japanese and Korean vehicles to 152 countries via 32 overseas offices. It serves individual buyers, dealers, and fleet operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Used Vehicle Export Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4231)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Export & Cross-Border Fleet Resale (Compliance, Documentation) (TLABAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dealer-to-Dealer (B2B) Vehicle Remarketing Networks (TLABAKAB)

Keywords

• Used car export
• Vehicle auction bidding
• International car shipping
• Automobile import services
• Pre-owned vehicle sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Sales: One-time transaction revenue from export and sale of automobiles. Customers purchase vehicles from inventory or through auction bidding, paying for the vehicle plus shipping and handling fees.
2. Shipping and Logistics Services: Freight charges for international shipping of vehicles to global destinations. Payment accepted only via T/T (Telegraphic Transfer).
3. Global Protection Program (Insurance): Optional insurance coverage (GPP) offered for freight protection during shipping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SBT Company (SBT Japan) operates an online platform for sourcing, inspecting, and exporting used Japanese automobiles to customers worldwide. The company aggregates inventory of over 293,626 vehicles from Japanese, Korean, and other Asian sources, provides an online auction bidding system spanning USS, TAA, CAA, AUCNET, and tender auctions, and handles global shipping, insurance, and import compliance across 152 countries.

Product overview

SBT Japan operates as a global used automobile trading platform with a core marketplace offering over 293,626 vehicles sourced from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, China, UK, and UAE. The platform consists of the Used Car Sales Platform enabling direct vehicle purchases with advanced search filters, and an Online Auction Bidding System providing access to approximately 150,000 weekly auction vehicles from USS, TAA, CAA, and AUCNET. Supporting services include Global Shipping with FOB options, the optional Global Protection Program (GPP) insurance, Car Tracking, Chassis Check, and Damage Condition Report. Regional import services are offered through dedicated sub-brands for Oceania Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, each handling local compliance requirements and door-to-door delivery. The platform serves customers in over 152 countries through 32 overseas offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% repeat purchase rate demonstrating customer satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• AutohubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping carrier used for Australia shipments, providing transportation services from Japan to Australian ports including Melbourne, Port Kembla, Brisbane, and Fremantle.
• Dolphin ShippingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping carrier partner for Australia vehicle shipments.
• ArmacupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping carrier used for New Zealand shipments, offering container shipping services.
• Campbell ShippingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping agent for Armacup serving Fiji markets via Lautoka and Suva ports.
• Pacific Agencies (Swire)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping agent for Fiji operations.
• Carpenters Shipping (Kyowa)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipping agent for Fiji operations.
• Eagle Auto ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecommended compliance check service provider for Auckland customers in New Zealand.
• IVA Test CentersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUK government-authorized testing facilities for imported vehicle compliance (IVA/SVA Test Certificate required for vehicles under 10 years).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JapanCarTrade / JDM Export Center: JDM-focused used Japanese vehicle exporter with online auction access and international delivery. Overlaps with SBT in target customer (importers in Africa, Caribbean, Oceania) and product mix (used Japanese ICE vehicles).
• SBI Motor Japan: SBI Motor Japan is a major Japanese used-car exporter with auction access and global shipping. Closely overlaps with SBT in product offering (used-vehicle sourcing from Japanese auctions) and customer base (international dealers and consumers).
• Carused.jp: Carused.jp is a Japanese used-car export platform providing auction-based sourcing and international shipping. Comparable to SBT as a direct competitor serving overseas dealers and individual buyers.
• Be Forward: Be Forward is one of the largest Japanese used-vehicle exporters globally, operating a similar e-commerce platform that sources from Japanese auctions and ships to buyers worldwide. Directly comparable to SBT on sourcing model, customer base, and cross-border logistics.
• Nippon Export / Japan Partner: Japanese used-car exporter with auction bidding services and global shipping. Comparable to SBT on cross-border B2C/B2B used-vehicle sales and customer geographic mix.

Broad incumbents

• Che168 / Bitauto (Yiche): Major Chinese auto marketplace and listing platform. Broader incumbent offering online car listings, dealer tools, and cross-border services relevant to SBT's global used-vehicle e-commerce model.
• Copart: Global online vehicle auction platform with salvage and used-vehicle inventory. Comparable to SBT in operating auction-based used-vehicle marketplaces, though focused on salvage/insurance vehicles rather than Japan-sourced retail inventory.
• Carsome: Southeast Asian used-car marketplace and export platform. Comparable to SBT as a regional used-car e-commerce and cross-border seller, though focused on ASEAN rather than Japan-sourced inventory.
• Autorec: Established Japanese used-car platform offering auction access and export services. Broader incumbent in the same category, serving overlapping international buyer segments with a wider service portfolio than SBT.

Others

• DHL Automotive / Wallenius Wilhelmsen: Global vehicle logistics and shipping providers used by SBT's carrier partners. Adjacent ecosystem participant providing the cross-border ocean freight backbone that enables SBT's export model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbtjapan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbt-japan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about SBT Company