What Car Mate Manufacturing does

Car Mate Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (株式会社カーメイト) is a Tokyo-headquartered, publicly listed (TYO:7297) Japanese automotive accessories manufacturer founded in 1966, with a consolidated workforce of 640 employees and FY2026 consolidated revenue of ¥14.563 billion. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells a broad aftermarket product portfolio organized under category-leading sub-brands including INNO (roof carriers and cargo systems), AILEBEBE (child safety seats and baby products), d'Action 360 (360-degree dashcams), GIGA (LED lighting), BIATHLON (non-metal tire chains, #1 domestic share), BLANG/luno (fragrances, with 3.7 million+ cumulative mist-diffuser units sold), Dr.DEO (disinfectants), RAZO (shift knobs and pedals), HyperResin (car care chemicals), ZeroWiper (glass coatings), FLUX (snowboard bindings), and e-FREE (electric mobility). Underlying technology spans vehicle-specific accessory design, 360-degree camera systems, non-metal tire-chain engineering, fragrance diffusion, child-seat safety mechanisms (with a Good Design Award-winning 360-degree rotation system), and the world's first resin-molded roof rack.

Car Mate monetizes primarily through one-time hardware sales across these sub-brands, with an emerging subscription component for AILEBEBE child seats via KINTO and Autobacs. Its go-to-market is a hybrid of B2B distribution through Japan's leading automotive aftermarket chains (Autobacs Seven, Yellow Hat), mass merchants and home centers (Cainz, DCM, Toys"R"Us Japan), and direct-to-consumer e-commerce through ps.carmate.co.jp, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping. OEM relationships with Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki generate vehicle-specific accessory programs. International operations are run through Car Mate USA (Los Angeles), a Hong Kong subsidiary, and Chinese trading entities in Shanghai and Shenzhen, with brand visibility at CES, SEMA, and Japan Mobility Show.

The company operates from Tokyo headquarters, a primary manufacturing site and chemical/technical R&D facilities in Yuki (Ibaraki), and a network of regional sales offices across Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. It is governed by Chairman Murata Takaaki, CEO Tokuda Masaru, and a board including outside directors. Strategic priorities are visible in recent product launches (e-FREE 01, INNO Roof Board, d'Action 360), R&D partnerships (University of Tokyo for EV charging visualization, Senko Shoji for commercial-vehicle safety, Akachan Honpo for child seats), and active awards accumulation (CES 2023 Innovation Award, multiple Good Design Awards, 2017 日刊自動車新聞用品大賞 Grand Prix).

Name

Car Mate Manufacturing

Legal name

株式会社カーメイト (CAR MATE MFG. CO., LTD.)

Website

https://carmate.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Car Mate Manufacturing is a Japanese automotive accessories manufacturer producing roof carriers (INNO), child seats (AILEBEBE), dashcams (d'Action 360), tire chains (BIATHLON), and fragrances. The company serves individual consumers and OEMs through major Japanese retail chains, e-commerce, and international subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Accessories

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (336360)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Aftermarket Exterior Accessories Manufacturing (Body Kits/Grilles/Bumpers/Racks/Tow Hooks) (IMACANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aftermarket Electronics & Infotainment Accessories Manufacturing (Audio/Navigation/Dash Cams/Alarms/Remote Start) (IMACANAH), Aftermarket Towing, Hauling & Utility Accessories Manufacturing (Hitches/Winches/Trailer Wiring/Cargo Carriers) (IMACANAO), Aftermarket Interior Accessories Manufacturing (Floor Mats/Seat Covers/Steering Covers/Storage) (IMACANAJ)

Keywords

• Automotive accessories
• Child safety seats
• Roof carriers
• Dash cameras
• Tire chains

Headquarters

HQ city

Toshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales — Car Accessories & Parts: Car Mate generates the majority of its revenue from manufacturing and selling a broad portfolio of car accessories including roof carriers (INNO), drink holders, smartphone holders, mirrors, LED lights (GIGA), fragrance products (BLANG, luno, Dr.DEO), tire chains (Biathlon), dashcams (d'Action 360), car care chemicals, and vehicle-specific accessories. Products are sold through retail chains (Autobacs, Yellow Hat), mass merchants, e-commerce platforms, and direct online store. Revenue is predominantly one-time (per-unit) with no recurring component for most accessory products.
2. Product Sales — Child Safety Seats & Baby Products: AILEBEBE (エールベベ) brand produces ISOFIX-compatible child seats, baby carriers, and related baby products. Products sold through retailers including Akachan Honpo (赤ちゃん本舗), mass merchants, and e-commerce. A child seat subscription (subsc) service was launched domestically in 2023. Revenue is primarily one-time product sales with emerging subscription component.
3. Product Sales — Snowboard & Outdoor Gear: FLUX brand snowboards and bindings, INNO fishing gear, and outdoor camping accessories (roof boxes, carriers, Xride system). Sold through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers, as well as general car accessory channels.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Car Mate Manufacturing designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells a broad portfolio of automotive aftermarket accessories, child safety seats, and outdoor/sports gear under proprietary sub-brands. Primary offerings include INNO roof carriers and cargo systems, AILEBEBE child safety seats, d'Action 360 dashcams, BIATHLON non-metal tire chains, GIGA LED lighting, BLANG/luno fragrances, RAZO interior accessories, Dr.DEO disinfectants, and vehicle-specific accessories for Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda models. Products reach consumers through Japanese retail chains (Autobacs, Yellow Hat), mass merchants, online marketplaces, and Car Mate's own e-commerce storefront, with OEM parts supply to Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki.

Product overview

Car Mate Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a Japanese automotive accessories manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio of products across multiple sub-brands. The core offerings include INNO roof carriers and cargo systems, d'Action 360 dashcams, and AILEBEBE child safety seats as primary product lines. Supporting brands encompass GIGA LED/HID lighting, BIATHLON tire chains, BLANG/luno fragrances, Dr.DEO disinfectants, RAZO shift knobs/pedals, and HyperResin car care chemicals. The company also produces specialized accessories including wide rearview mirrors, smartphone holders, drink holders, and console boxes with vehicle-specific designs. Additional products include e-FREE electric mobility vehicles, FLUX snowboard bindings, GO.BUGGY pet carts, and coneco GPS tracking services. The product ecosystem is managed through a direct online store and major e-commerce platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INNO (イノー): Roof racks and car carriers
• AILEBEBE (エールベベ)
• d'Action 360 (ダクション)
• BLANG
• BIATHLON (バイアスロン)
• GIGA (ギガ)
• RAZO (レッツォ)
• Dr.DEO (ドクターデオ)
• FLUX
• e-free (イーフリー)

Products and services

• INNO roof carriers and cargo systems Roof racks, roof boxes, bike carriers, kayak/surfboard carriers, and the INNO Roof Board (world's first resin-molded roof rack). Designed for vehicle-based outdoor activities and cargo transport for individual Japanese car owners and outdoor enthusiasts.
• AILEBEBE child safety seats and baby products ISOFIX and R129-compliant child safety seats including the proprietary 360° rotation-slide-swing クルット series, junior seats, infant carriers, nursing cushions, and car hammocks. Sold to parents with infants and young children via Akachan Honpo, Toys"R"Us, KINTO subscription, and general retail.
• d'Action 360 dashcams / drive recorders 360-degree dual-lens dashcam system with front/rear vehicle number plate recording and action camera mode (d'Action 360 S model). Sold to individual car owners and fleet operators for driving recording and accident evidence.
• BIATHLON non-metal tire chains Non-metal tire chains with Japan's #1 domestic market share. JASAA-certified, with easy-fit and quick-release mechanisms including auto-winding and no-tool-required installation. Targeted at drivers in snow-belt regions (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku).
• GIGA LED and HID vehicle lighting LED headlight bulbs, fog lights, position lights, and room lamps for vehicles. Awarded the 日刊自動車新聞用品大賞2024 Lamp/Valve category. Sold to individual car owners and automotive retailers.
• BLANG / luno car fragrances and air fresheners Spray diffusers, liquid fragrances, hanging air fresheners, and fragrance oils including the mist-type fragrance diffuser series with 3.7M+ cumulative units sold. Auto-misting triggered by engine start with replaceable fragrance cartridges. Sold to individual car owners through Pip and general retail channels.
• RAZO shift knobs and pedals Shift knobs, pedals, and automotive interior accessories for sports and vehicle customization, targeted at individual car owners seeking interior personalization.
• Dr.DEO disinfectants and deodorizers Vehicle and home-use disinfectants and deodorizers including spray types, diffusers, and air purifiers. Sold through Pip and general retail for in-vehicle hygiene.
• HyperResin body coating and car care chemicals Body coatings, glass coatings, wheel cleaners, and surface treatments including the wiper-free Zero Wiper glass coating technology (world's first). Targeted at individual car owners for vehicle maintenance and appearance.
• FLUX snowboard bindings Snowboard bindings and related winter sports equipment including Burton STEP ON-compatible models. Distributed through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers for snow sports enthusiasts.
• e-FREE electric mobility vehicles Specific small motorized bicycles (electric bikes) approved under Japan's specific small motorized bicycle regulations. Compact electric mobility device sold through retail channels for urban mobility consumers.
• GO.BUGGY Dog pet carts 3-wheel pet buggies and pet mobility products for outdoor and camping use with pets. Sold to pet owners through the Ailebebe brand channels and at events like ジャパンわんこフェスタ2026 in お台場.
• CX series vehicle-specific car accessories Vehicle-specific interior accessories including drink holders, smartphone holders, console boxes, and storage solutions designed for specific car models like Jimny, N-BOX, and Prius. Sold through Car Mate's official online store and OEM channels.
• Wide rearview mirrors Extended field-of-view rearview mirrors for various vehicle brands including Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Suzuki, and Mercedes-Benz. Sold through Car Mate's official online store.
• DriveMate smartphone application Smartphone application providing safe driving support, fuel management, and OBD2 vehicle data integration via Car Mate's released OBD2 SDK. Targeted at individual car owners for connected driving data.
• Brake pedal lock Brake pedal lock accessory designed to reduce injuries during operation and prevent scratches to vehicles. Sold to individual car owners through Car Mate retail channels.
• Bakuhu Handy Fan (爆風ハンディファン) Handheld fan with smartphone cooling function and integrated safety features, co-developed with IRIE. Targeted at individual consumers for personal cooling and smartphone thermal management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-metal tire chain Biathlon holds #1 domestic market share in Japan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• センコー商事株式会社 (Senko Shoji)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of the 'ミリ波退突センサー2' (millimeter-wave rear collision prevention sensor 2) for commercial trucks, announced April 2024. The product helps prevent rear collision accidents during truck backing maneuvers, combining Car Mate's car accessory engineering with Senko Shoji's commercial vehicle expertise.
• 東京大学 (The University of Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of a 給電状況の可視化システム (EV charging status visualization system) with the University of Tokyo. Announced October 2023. The system makes EV charging status visible, supporting electric vehicle adoption.
• 大分県警察本部 (Oita Prefectural Police Headquarters)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple joint projects: co-production of VR traffic safety videos (2019), 'おんせん県おおいたロードマップ' safety app (2016), and 'ドラさぽ' traffic safety education app (2013). Awarded two commendations for traffic accident prevention contributions (2016 and 2022).
• 株式会社赤ちゃん本舗 (Akachan Honpo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of multiple AILEBEBE child seat models. Successful collaboration across multiple product generations including the 'クルット4 ウィ', 'クルットNT2', 'クルットR ウィ', and other child seat models. Strong retail distribution partnership through Akachan Honpo stores.
• 損保ジャパン日本興亜株式会社 (SOMPO Japan Nipponkoa Insurance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of 'Safety Sight' app, which includes white line detection technology. Car Mate provided technology for the insurance company's driver assistance application.
• Burton SnowboardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on FLUX snowboard bindings: world-first release of Burton's 'STEP ON' binding compatible FLUX model, announced January 2022. Exclusive Japan distribution and co-development of STEP ON-compatible bindings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Yakima: US-based roof rack and cargo solutions brand owned by Clarus Corporation. Closely comparable to INNO in product category and target use cases (outdoor sports gear transport, family cargo), though it has stronger US distribution and brand presence than Car Mate.
• Rhino-Rack: Australian roof rack and cargo carrier manufacturer with global distribution. Competes with INNO across roof racks, bike carriers, and kayak carriers, and serves a similar outdoor enthusiast customer segment.
• Nextbase: UK-based dashcam specialist and European market leader. Directly comparable to d'Action 360 in product category and use case, with similar focus on consumer-grade dashcams featuring video quality and parking surveillance capabilities.
• Combi (Tokyo): One of Japan's leading child safety seat and baby product brands. Directly competes with Car Mate's AILEBEBE brand across ISOFIX/R129 child seats, baby carriers, and related in-car products, distributed through overlapping Japanese retail and baby specialty channels.
• Thule Group: Swedish global leader in roof racks, cargo carriers, and active outdoor transport solutions. Directly comparable to Car Mate's INNO brand for roof carriers, bike carriers, and cargo boxes, and competes in similar outdoor enthusiast and family segments.
• PIAA Corporation: Japan-based manufacturer of automotive lighting, horns, wiper blades, and filters. Overlaps with Car Mate's GIGA LED/HID lighting line and car care category, serving the same Japanese aftermarket through similar retail channels.
• Aprica (Tokyo): Japanese child safety seat and baby mobility brand owned by Goodbaby International. Competes head-to-head with AILEBEBE in the Japanese domestic child seat market and shares similar distribution through baby specialty retailers and mass merchants.

Broad incumbents

• Pioneer Corporation: Japanese automotive electronics incumbent with a dashcam and car infotainment portfolio. Overlaps with d'Action 360 and broader Car Mate electronics offerings, but operates at much larger scale across OEM and aftermarket channels.
• Garmin: Global consumer electronics company with a significant automotive segment including dashcams, GPS, and ADAS solutions. Overlaps with Car Mate's d'Action 360 dashcam and coneco GPS tracking businesses, but as part of a much broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• K&N Engineering: US-based aftermarket performance parts manufacturer specializing in air filters, intake systems, and accessories. Comparable as a broad-line automotive aftermarket brand targeting enthusiast and customization consumers, though more focused on powertrain than Car Mate's lifestyle and safety categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/car_mate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CARMATEMOVIE
• Facebookfacebook.com/carmate.official
• Instagraminstagram.com/carmate_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Car Mate Manufacturing