SBT Company
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersYokohama, Japan
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
SBT Company firmographics
Firmographics- 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
SBT Company industry classification
Industry- 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
Where SBT Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yokohama
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices6 records
Markets served
SBT Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- 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.
- Shipping and Logistics Services: Freight charges for international shipping of vehicles to global destinations. Payment accepted only via T/T (Telegraphic Transfer).
- Global Protection Program (Insurance): Optional insurance coverage (GPP) offered for freight protection during shipping.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Vehicle Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
SBT Company product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use SBT Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SBT Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
SBT Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- AutohubminorShipping carrier used for Australia shipments, providing transportation services from Japan to Australian ports including Melbourne, Port Kembla, Brisbane, and Fremantle.
- Dolphin ShippingminorShipping carrier partner for Australia vehicle shipments.
- ArmacupminorShipping carrier used for New Zealand shipments, offering container shipping services.
- Campbell ShippingminorShipping agent for Armacup serving Fiji markets via Lautoka and Suva ports.
- Pacific Agencies (Swire)minorShipping agent for Fiji operations.
- Carpenters Shipping (Kyowa)minorShipping agent for Fiji operations.
- Eagle Auto ServicesminorRecommended compliance check service provider for Auckland customers in New Zealand.
- IVA Test CentersminorUK 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
SBT Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
SBT Company social profiles
Digital presenceSBT Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SBT Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SBT Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SBT Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SBT Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SBT Company
What does SBT Company do?
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.
Is SBT Company a public or private company?
SBT Company is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SBT Company founded?
SBT Company was founded in 1993. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SBT Company based?
SBT Company is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does SBT Company make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are shipping and Logistics Services and global Protection Program (Insurance).
Who are SBT Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JapanCarTrade / JDM Export Center, SBI Motor Japan, Carused.jp, Be Forward and Nippon Export / Japan Partner. Broad incumbents are Che168 / Bitauto (Yiche), Copart, Carsome and Autorec. DHL Automotive / Wallenius Wilhelmsen is listed as an others.
Does SBT Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for SBT Company.
What industry is SBT Company in?
SBT Company's product category is Used Vehicle Export Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAKAJ, Export & Cross-Border Fleet Resale (Compliance, Documentation), with a secondary code of TLABAKAB, Dealer-to-Dealer (B2B) Vehicle Remarketing Networks. Its NAICS code is 4231 and its SIC code is 5010.