What KU HOLDINGS does

KU HOLDINGS (株式会社ケーユーホールディングス, ticker 9856) is a Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market-listed pure holding company founded in 1972 and headquartered in Machida, Tokyo. The group operates a multi-brand automotive retail platform across Japan, with FY March 2026 consolidated revenue of ¥169,094 million, ordinary profit of ¥8,602 million, and 1,461 employees. The company maintains five wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: KEIYU (33 stores, mass-market used domestic vehicles), Stern Setagaya and Stern Chuo (21 combined Mercedes-Benz stores), Moteren Tomei Yokohama (9 BMW/MINI stores), and Five Star Tomei Yokohama (4 Jeep/Cadillac/Chevrolet stores), totaling 68+ physical dealership locations across 16 prefectures.

The business model is a "total dealer" (トータルディーラー) approach spanning the full vehicle ownership lifecycle. Revenue is generated from three primary streams: vehicle sales margin on new and used cars (domestic and imported), maintenance/repair/inspection service fees at dealership service centers, and commission income from financing, insurance, and value-added services. Distribution is exclusively through owned retail storefronts, with digital channels (corporate website, dealer sites, Instagram, Facebook) used for top-of-funnel engagement. The group holds long-standing authorized dealer relationships with Mercedes-Benz Japan (since 1988), BMW Group Japan (since 1994), and Stellantis Japan (since 1996), and has pioneered world-first specialized concepts including an AMG-only dealership (2017), EV-only Mercedes-EQ dealership (2022), and the Ginza flagship showroom format (2022).

Recent strategic activity centers on premium brand consolidation: in 2025 the group acquired Stern Nishitama (July) and Stern Chuo (September) to expand Mercedes-Benz coverage, divested its Volkswagen business, and in April 2026 merged Stern Setagaya with Stern Nishitama to streamline the Tokyo Mercedes-Benz operations. The group is led by President and Representative Director Bando Tetsuyuki (板東徹行). Capital return has been active, with material share buybacks pushing treasury stock to 28.9% as of March 2026. Customer base is highly fragmented individual consumers, with no significant enterprise concentration.

Name

KU HOLDINGS

Legal name

株式会社ケーユーホールディングス

Website

https://ku-hd.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KU HOLDINGS is a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed pure holding company (founded 1972) operating 68+ multi-brand automotive dealerships across 16 Japanese prefectures through five wholly-owned subsidiaries, selling domestic used vehicles (KEIYU) and authorized Mercedes-Benz, BMW/MINI, and Stellantis franchise vehicles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Machida

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Vehicle Sales): Sale of new and used vehicles, including domestic and imported cars. Revenue comes from the difference between purchase and sale prices of vehicles.
2. Repair Services: Vehicle maintenance, inspection, and repair services provided to customers at dealership service centers.
3. Commission Income: Fees and commissions from financing, insurance, and other value-added services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KU HOLDINGS is a pure holding company (純持株会社) operating five wholly-owned automotive retail subsidiaries across Japan. Through its subsidiaries, the group sells new and used vehicles across multiple brands—both domestic Japanese used cars and authorized import franchises (Mercedes-Benz, BMW/MINI, Jeep/Cadillac/Chevrolet)—and provides after-sales maintenance, repair, insurance agency, and financing services through approximately 68 retail dealership locations spanning 16 prefectures.

Product overview

KU HOLDINGS operates as a pure holding company (純粋持株会社) managing five wholly-owned subsidiaries across the Japanese automotive retail sector. The group functions as a 'total dealer' (タレントディーラー), offering both domestic used car sales through 株式会社ケーユー (33 stores) and import vehicle dealership operations through authorized dealer franchises for Mercedes-Benz (シュテルン世田谷: 18 stores, シュテルン中央: 3 stores), BMW/MINI (モトーレン東名横浜: 9 stores), and Jeep/Cadillac/Chevrolet (ファイブスター東名横浜: 4 stores). The group operates 68+ total locations across 16 prefectures and has established world-first specialized dealerships including AMG東京世田谷 (AMG-only), Mercedes-EQ横浜 (EV-only), and Stars@Mercedes-Benz GINZA (flagship concept). Core services span new/used vehicle sales, after-sales maintenance and repair, and insurance agency services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ケーユー: Domestic vehicle sales brand handling used and new cars from all Japanese manufacturers
• シュテルン世田谷
• モトーレン東名横浜
• ファイブスター東名横浜
• シュテルン中央

Products and services

• KEIYU (株式会社ケーユー) — Domestic Used Car Dealership Wholly-owned subsidiary selling used and new domestic vehicles from all Japanese manufacturers, plus insurance agency services. Operates 33 stores across eastern Japan (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku regions). Targets individual consumers seeking affordable, multi-brand domestic cars.
• Stern Setagaya (株式会社シュテルン世田谷) — Mercedes-Benz Authorized Dealer Wholly-owned subsidiary operating as an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer with 18 stores in Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka. Offers new/used Mercedes-Benz sales, after-sales service, and insurance. Houses the world's first AMG-only and Mercedes-EQ (EV) dealerships plus the Stars@Mercedes-Benz GINZA flagship concept.
• Stern Chuo (株式会社シュテルン中央) — Mercedes-Benz Authorized Dealer Wholly-owned subsidiary operating as an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer with 3 stores in central Tokyo (Toyosu, Toyosu Aomi Certified Car Center, Chuo). Acquired as a wholly-owned subsidiary in September 2025. Sells new and certified used Mercedes-Benz vehicles plus after-sales service.
• Moteren Tomei Yokohama (株式会社モトーレン東名横浜) — BMW and MINI Authorized Dealer Wholly-owned subsidiary operating as an authorized BMW and MINI dealer with 9 stores across Tokyo and Kanagawa. Offers new and certified pre-owned BMW/MINI vehicle sales, after-sales service, and insurance. Includes the BMW Premium Selection certified used car program.
• Five Star Tomei Yokohama (株式会社ファイブスター東名横浜) — Jeep/Cadillac/Chevrolet Authorized Dealer Wholly-owned subsidiary operating as an authorized dealer for Stellantis brands Jeep, Cadillac, and Chevrolet with 4 stores in Tokyo and Kanagawa. Sells new and used import vehicles, provides after-sales service, parts, and insurance.
• Vehicle Maintenance, Inspection, and Repair Services
• Vehicle Financing and Insurance Agency Services

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 都玲華 (Pro Golfer)minorOthers · 14 April 2026Professional golfer sponsored by Stern Setagaya. Received Mercedes-Benz GLC vehicle.
• 横田真一 (Pro Golfer)minorOthers · 11 April 2026Professional golfer sponsored by Stern Setagaya. Won Unitex Senior Open 2026.
• K2 R&D LEON RACINGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024KU HOLDINGS subsidiary Stern Setagaya sponsors K2 R&D LEON RACING in SUPER GT SERIES with Mercedes-AMG GT3. The racing team competes in Japan's top GT3 championship. The partnership aligns with the company's brand values of challenging spirit and premium experience.
• 稲森佑貴 (Pro Golfer)minorOthers · 7 August 2023Professional golfer sponsored by Stern Setagaya. Won ACN Championship 2023.
• 清水大成 (Pro Golfer)minorOthers · 1 August 2023Professional golfer sponsored by Stern Setagaya. Provides vehicles for tournament participation and represents the brand at events.
• 時松隆光 (Pro Golfer)minorOthers · 1 June 2023Professional golfer sponsored by Stern Setagaya. Provides vehicles for tournament participation.
• Stellantis Japan (formerly Chrysler Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1996Official authorized dealer for Jeep, Cadillac, and Chevrolet vehicles through subsidiary Five Star Tomei Yokohama.
• BMW Group JapancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 1994Official authorized dealer for BMW and MINI vehicles through subsidiary Moteren Tomei Yokohama with multiple locations in Tokyo and Kanagawa.
• Mercedes-Benz JapancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 1988Official authorized dealer for Mercedes-Benz vehicles through subsidiaries Stern Setagaya and Stern Chuo. Multiple dealer contracts for sales and service across Greater Tokyo area.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. Tokyo-listed Japanese auto parts and after-sales services retailer (TSE: 9832). Larger incumbent in Japanese automotive retail with adjacent consumer overlap, but operating primarily in parts/services rather than new/used vehicle sales; relevant for cross-channel benchmarking.
• Yellow Hat Ltd. Tokyo-listed Japanese auto parts and maintenance retailer (TSE: 9882). Broader incumbent in Japanese automotive aftermarket with comparable service-channel orientation; relevant adjacently for the after-sales footprint that KU HOLDINGS supports through its dealership service operations.

Direct peers

• Lithia Motors, Inc. NYSE-listed US-based largest dealer group by revenue (NYSE: LAD). Relevant global peer for KU HOLDINGS' multi-brand consolidated dealer structure, recurring M&A roll-up strategy, and operating leverage from shared group-level functions.
• Hankyu Hanshin Motors Co., Ltd. Major multi-brand Japanese automotive dealer group, affiliated with Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Comparable to KU HOLDINGS in multi-brand dealer structure and import brand relationships across European OEMs, with similar group-level operating model.
• IDOM Inc. Tokyo-listed Japanese used car retailer (TSE: 7599), also known by the Gulliver brand, with nationwide footprint. Direct competitor to KU HOLDINGS' KEIYU domestic used-car subsidiary and the most comparable horizontal multi-brand retail peer in Japan.
• Nextage Co., Ltd. Tokyo-listed Japanese used and new car retail chain operating a multi-brand store network across Japan. Directly comparable to KU HOLDINGS in horizontal retail model and customer base, with overlapping domestic volume dealerships and import franchises.
• Carchs Co., Ltd. Tokyo-listed Japanese used car retailer (formerly Masanori & Co., TSE: 6532) with a similar customer segment and multi-brand format. Direct comparable as a publicly listed Japanese used-vehicle retail peer overlapping with KU HOLDINGS' KEIYU network.
• Inchcape plc: London-listed global automotive distributor and premium/import retailer. Relevant global comparable for KU HOLDINGS' Stern, Motoren and Five Star import dealer operations, sharing a multi-brand premium distribution model across geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 KU HOLDINGS