Carmate
Carmate is a Japanese manufacturer of automotive aftermarket accessories, including roof carriers, dashcams, child seats, tire chains, LED lighting, and car care products, sold through retailers like Autobacs and Yellow Hat, plus direct e-commerce, serving car owners, parents, and outdoor enthusiasts in Japan and 35+ countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersTokyo (Toshima-ku, Nagasaki), Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Carmate does
Carmate (株式会社カーメイト, ticker 7297) is a Japanese automotive aftermarket manufacturer founded June 7, 1966, and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market since April 2022. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures a broad portfolio of car accessories across multiple sub-brands, including INNO (roof carriers, roof boxes, and roof racks), AILEBEBE (child seats and baby products), d'Action 360 (dashcams with 360-degree recording), BIATHLON (non-metal tire chains holding Japan's No. 1 domestic share), GIGA (LED lighting), BLANG/Luno (fragrances), Dr.DEO (antibacterial products), RAZO (shift knobs and pedals), Hyper Resin (body coatings), and FLUX (snowboard bindings). Carmate also offers adjacent lifestyle products such as e-FREE e-bikes and GO.BUGGY Dog pet carts, and maintains proprietary technology platforms including DriveMate (OBD2-based driving analytics app), TouchStart (remote engine starter), and CONECO (GPS tracker). FY March 2026 consolidated revenue was ¥14,563M with operating profit of ¥653M.
The company operates a multi-channel distribution model centered on Japan's leading auto parts retailers (Autobacs, Yellow Hat), home improvement chains (Cainz, DCM), and baby product specialists (Akachan Honpo, Toys R Us Japan), supplemented by direct e-commerce through its official online store, Rakuten, and Yahoo Shopping. Internationally, Carmate sells through wholly-owned subsidiaries in the USA, Hong Kong, and China (Shenzhen, Shanghai), reaching 35+ countries. Manufacturing and R&D are concentrated at the Yuki Factory and Chemical Development Center in Ibaraki Prefecture, with domestic sales offices in Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Carmate's revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time hardware sales of car accessories, chemicals, child safety seats, roof carriers, LED lighting, dashcams, and outdoor/sports equipment to individual consumers and B2B fleet customers. The company recently introduced subscription-based distribution for child seats via KINTO Mobility Market and offers the OBD2 SDK as a developer platform. Carmate employs 640 people on a consolidated basis and 343 on a standalone basis as of March 31, 2026.
Carmate firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carmate
- Legal name
- 株式会社カーメイト（英文社名: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
- Carmate is a Japanese manufacturer of automotive aftermarket accessories, including roof carriers, dashcams, child seats, tire chains, LED lighting, and car care products, sold through retailers like Autobacs and Yellow Hat, plus direct e-commerce, serving car owners, parents, and outdoor enthusiasts in Japan and 35+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carmate industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Aftermarket Accessories
- NAICS
- Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320), Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (4413)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aftermarket Exterior Accessories Manufacturing (Body Kits/Grilles/Bumpers/Racks/Tow Hooks) (IMACANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aftermarket Towing, Hauling & Utility Accessories Manufacturing (Hitches/Winches/Trailer Wiring/Cargo Carriers) (IMACANAO), Aftermarket Wheels, Tires & TPMS Accessories Manufacturing (Rims/Spacers/Valve Stems/TPMS Sensors) (IMACANAF)
Keywords
Where Carmate is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo (Toshima-ku, Nagasaki)
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices12 records
Markets served
Carmate business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of physical car accessories, chemical products, child seats, roof carriers, LED lighting, dashcams, fragrances and car care products as one-time purchases through retail and e-commerce channels
- Automotive Aftermarket Products: Wide-ranging automotive aftermarket products sold to individual consumers and B2B customers through distributors, retailers, and direct corporate sales
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Carmate product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carmate designs, manufactures, and sells automotive aftermarket products spanning roof carriers, child safety seats, dash cameras, non-metal tire chains, LED lighting, fragrances, deodorizers, car care chemicals, shift knobs and pedals, snowboard bindings, and electric bicycles. The company distributes its products through major Japanese auto parts retail chains such as Autobacs and Yellow Hat, its own online store, marketplaces (Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping), overseas subsidiaries in the USA, Hong Kong, and China, and direct B2B sales for corporate fleet customers.
Product overview
Carmate (株式会社カーメイト) is a Japanese manufacturer offering a broad portfolio of car accessories, outdoor/leisure products, and sporting goods. The company operates multiple sub-brands: INNO for roof carriers and racks, AILEBEBE for child seats and baby products, d'Action 360 for dash cameras, GIGA for LED/HID lighting, BIATHLON for tire chains, BLANG/Luno for fragrances, Dr.DEO for antibacterial products, RAZO for shift knobs/pedals, FLUX for snowboarding equipment, and e-free for electric bicycles. Core technology products include DriveMate OBD2 driving apps, TouchStart remote engine starters, CONECO GPS trackers, and Zero Wiper water-repellent films. Carmate also offers chemical products (Hyper Resin coatings, Purple Magic cleaners, XClear glass treatments) and car accessories (holders, mirrors, interior items). The company sells directly via online stores (official, Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping) and through major auto parts retailers nationwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- INNO（イノー）: 車載キャリア・スポーツ用品ブランド
- AILEBEBE（エールベベ）
- d'Action 360（ダクション）
- BLANG（ブラング） / luno（ルーノ）
- BIATHLON（バイアスロン）
- GIGA（ギガ）
- RAZO（レッツォ）
- Dr.DEO（ドクターデオ）
- FLUX（フラックス）
- e-free（イーフリー）
- GO.BUGGY Dog
Products and services
- INNO Roof Carriers and Racks Roof carriers, roof boxes, roof racks, and bicycle carriers for passenger cars, SUVs, and commercial vehicles, including system carriers, roof decks, roof baskets, and specialty carriers for fishing rods and ladders.
- AILEBEBE Child Seats and Baby Products
Companies that use Carmate
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carmate technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability10 records
Feature6 records
Carmate partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- テリエ・ハーコンセン (Terje Haakonsen) - Pro SnowboarderminorDevelopment advisory contract with world-renowned snowboarder Terje Haakonsen for FLUX snowboard bindings brand, aimed at strengthening development capabilities and global market share
- KINTO (三菱UFJトラスト投資工学)minorAILEBEBE child seats listed on KINTO Mobility Market subscription service, expanding distribution to subscribers through a monthly subscription model
- センコー商事 (Senko Shoji)minorJoint development of millimeter-wave rear collision prevention sensor (退突センサー2) for commercial vehicles, addressing truck rear collision accidents
- 東京大学 (The University of Tokyo)minorJoint development of a visualization system for power supply status in vehicles, combining Tokyo University's research expertise with Carmate's automotive technology capabilities
- 損保ジャパン / SOMPO JapanminorTechnology provision for jointly developed Safety Sight app with features including white line detection, leveraging OBD2 data for driver safety assistance
- 赤ちゃん本篷 (Akachan Honpo)coreJoint development of AILEBEBE child seats - multiple collaborative product generations including Kurutto series and other child safety products developed specifically for the Japanese baby product market
- 松田次生 (Tsugio Matsuda) - Racing DriverminorAdvisory contract with professional racing driver Tsugio Matsuda for product development consultation and testing
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Carmate competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Soft99 Corporation: Japanese specialist in car care chemicals, coatings, and cleaning products. Closest direct competitor to Carmate's Hyper Resin, XClear, and chemical product lines, with overlapping retail placement at Autobacs and Yellow Hat.
- PIAA Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of aftermarket automotive lighting, wiper blades, and horns. Direct competitor to Carmate's GIGA LED brand and broader exterior accessory portfolio, serving the same Japanese channel partners.
- CELLSTAR Co., Ltd. Japanese dashcam and automotive electronics manufacturer with strong domestic retail presence. Direct competitor in the d'Action 360 category with comparable feature sets (front/rear recording, smartphone connectivity).
- Yupiteru Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of dashcams, GPS detectors, and automotive electronics. Head-to-head competitor to Carmate's d'Action 360 dashcam range and radar/connected-car product line, with similar Japanese retail channel presence.
- Thule Group: Global leader in roof racks, roof boxes, and cargo carriers for vehicles. Direct competitor to Carmate's INNO brand globally; Thule represents the international benchmark Carmate's INNO faces in overseas markets.
- Combi Corporation: Japan's leading child safety seat and baby products manufacturer. Primary domestic competitor to AILEBEBE
- Pigeon Corporation (Aprica brand): Major Japanese baby products company operating the Aprica child seat brand. Direct competitor to AILEBEBE across child seats, strollers, and parenting accessories, with comparable ISOFIX/R129 product positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Global automotive aftermarket division of Robert Bosch offering wiper blades, lighting, batteries, and diagnostic tools. Broad incumbent that competes with Carmate across multiple product categories globally, though not specialized in Carmate's niche segments.
- Garmin Ltd. Global consumer electronics leader in GPS navigation and automotive electronics including dashcams. Broader incumbent competing with Carmate's d'Action 360 and DriveMate connected-car platform with significantly larger R&D and global brand budgets.
- JVCKENWOOD Corporation: Japanese-established global player in car audio, dashcams (DRV series), and connected car electronics. Overlaps with Carmate's d'Action 360 dashcam business with greater international scale and OEM relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carmate social profiles
Digital presenceCarmate financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carmate leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Carmate subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Carmate funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carmate M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carmate
What does Carmate do?
Carmate designs, manufactures, and sells automotive aftermarket products spanning roof carriers, child safety seats, dash cameras, non-metal tire chains, LED lighting, fragrances, deodorizers, car care chemicals, shift knobs and pedals, snowboard bindings, and electric bicycles. The company distributes its products through major Japanese auto parts retail chains such as Autobacs and Yellow Hat, its own online store, marketplaces (Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping), overseas subsidiaries in the USA, Hong Kong, and China, and direct B2B sales for corporate fleet customers.
Is Carmate a public or private company?
Carmate is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Carmate founded?
Carmate was founded in 1966. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Carmate based?
Carmate is headquartered in Tokyo (Toshima-ku, Nagasaki), Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Carmate make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are automotive Aftermarket Products.
Who are Carmate's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Soft99 Corporation, PIAA Corporation, CELLSTAR Co., Ltd., Yupiteru Co., Ltd., Thule Group, Combi Corporation and Pigeon Corporation (Aprica brand). Broad incumbents are Bosch Automotive Aftermarket, Garmin Ltd. and JVCKENWOOD Corporation.
Does Carmate have an API?
Yes. Carmate offers an OBD2 SDK (Software Development Kit) for smartphone applications, enabling developers to access vehicle information via OBD2 connectors. The SDK allows integration with the DriveMate platform for fuel management, driving analysis, and vehicle data visualization. Additionally, OBD2-based applications have been developed in collaboration with partners. Developer documentation is at www.carmate.co.jp/news/press/sdk.html.
What industry is Carmate in?
Carmate's product category is Automotive Aftermarket Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACANAI, Aftermarket Exterior Accessories Manufacturing (Body Kits/Grilles/Bumpers/Racks/Tow Hooks), with a secondary code of IMACANAO, Aftermarket Towing, Hauling & Utility Accessories Manufacturing (Hitches/Winches/Trailer Wiring/Cargo Carriers). Its NAICS code is 44133 and its SIC code is 3714.