city light, co.,ltd

What city light, co.,ltd does

City Light Co., Ltd. (株式会社シティライト) is a privately held Japanese automotive distribution group headquartered in Okayama, Japan. Founded in 1985 (with origins in 1981 as Light Shoji), the company operates an integrated vehicle lifecycle platform spanning retail sales of used vehicles through its City Light and Jack store brands (including a 3,000-tsubo Jack superstore), vehicle purchasing services via the C-BOY franchise network, and wholesale auto auction operations through LAA (L.A.A.) — one of the larger West Japan auction venue networks with a main Okayama venue, a Shikoku main venue, and satellite locations in Tottori, Kobe-Nishi, and Kagawa.

The group has expanded into adjacent automotive services: Lec Auto Recycling operates an approximately 8,000-tsubo end-of-life vehicle facility in Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture; City Light Rent-a-Car operates a fleet of approximately 100 vehicles; an in-house insurance agency provides automotive and life products; and authorized brand dealerships represent DS Automobiles, Peugeot, Citroën, Jeep, Kawasaki motorcycles, BMW Motorrad, and Italian/American import brands (Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Caterham) through the Success subsidiary. As of 2024-2025 the company operates approximately 15 retail dealership locations across 8 prefectures in the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kansai regions, supported by 360 employees and ¥50 million in registered capital.

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: one-time retail vehicle sales (largest single stream), transaction fees from LAA auctions and C-BOY purchases, subscription/recurring rental revenue, and commission-based insurance sales. The go-to-market is sales-led via owned retail showrooms, authorized OEM dealer partnerships (notably with Stellantis Japan and Kawasaki Motors), a B2B dealer-membership auction channel, and a franchise-based vehicle buying network. The company is led by founder Akira Maruyama (丸山明) as Representative Director and President, with no publicly disclosed external investors or parent company.

Name

city light, co.,ltd

Legal name

株式会社シティライト

Website

https://citylight.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

City Light Co., Ltd. is a privately held Okayama-based Japanese automotive distribution group operating used-vehicle retail, wholesale auto auctions, vehicle purchasing franchises, recycling, rentals, and authorized brand dealerships across western Japan's Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kansai regions, serving both individual consumers and B2B dealer-members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Retail and Distribution

NAICS

Automobile Dealers (4411), Used Car Dealers (44112), Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (441227), Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (4412)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAFAKAE

Automotive Vehicles & Parts C2C

Consumer Products & Retail/E-commerce & Marketplaces/Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) Marketplaces

Keywords

• Used vehicle retail
• Auto auction services
• Automotive recycling
• Vehicle rental services
• Motorcycle dealership

Headquarters

HQ city

Okayama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices29 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Used Vehicle Sales: Retail sales of used automobiles through company-owned dealerships (Jack stores, City Light brand) and See-Boy used car buying franchise network across Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kinki regions
2. Automobile Auction Services: LAA (L.A.A.) auto auction operations providing wholesale vehicle trading venues; operates main venues in Okayama and Shikoku with satellite locations in Tottori, Hyogo, and Kagawa
3. Vehicle Purchase Services: See-Boy franchise system providing vehicle buying services to consumers; company operates as franchise headquarters
4. Automotive Recycling: Lec Auto Recycling operations processing end-of-life vehicles; approximately 8,000 tsubo facility in Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture
5. Rental Car Services: City Light Rent-a-Car service with fleet of approximately 100 vehicles equipped with navigation, back cameras, and ETC
6. New Vehicle Dealership: Authorized dealer operations for DS Automobiles, Peugeot, Citroën, Jeep, Kawasaki motorcycles, BMW Motorrad, and Fiat/Alfa Romeo brands
7. Insurance Agency Services: Automotive and life insurance sales through group companies including auto, fire, life, and medical insurance products

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

City Light Co., Ltd. is a vertically integrated automotive distribution group that sells, buys, rents, services, recycles, and exports vehicles across western Japan. The company operates used-car retail showrooms (City Light, Jack Shop), the C-BOY used-car purchasing franchise, the LAA wholesale auto auction network, automotive recycling (Lec Auto Recycle), a car rental fleet, and authorized brand dealerships for DS Automobiles, Peugeot, Citroen, Jeep, Kawasaki, and BMW Motorrad.

Product overview

City Light Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive automobile distribution company offering a diverse portfolio of automotive services through its group companies. The core business includes used car sales through the City Light/Jack Shop brand, car purchasing via C-BOY, and auto auctions through LAA. The company operates DS AUTOMOBILES, Citroën, Peugeot, and Jeep dealerships representing French automotive brands, along with Kawasaki motorcycle dealerships. Supporting services include auto recycling (Rec Auto Recycling), car rental (City Light Rent-a-Car), gas stations, and membership-based sales support (LAP). The company also contributes to regional sports through naming rights for City Light Stadium and City Light Fitness Court Okayama Minami, and operates a social baseball team 'City Light Okayama.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• シーボーイ (C-BOY): Car purchasing franchise brand, the company's used car buying business operating across the Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kansai regions.
• シティライト岡山
• レック オートリサイクル (Lec Auto Recycle)
• エル・エー・エー (L.A.A.)
• シティライトレンタカー
• DS Store 岡山
• カワサキプラザ
• 姫路カワサキ / BMW Motorrad Himeji
• シティライトスタジオ
• シティライト フィットネス コート岡山南

Products and services

• City Light Used Vehicle Retail Main used car sales brand operating large-scale showrooms offering sales, vehicle inspection, registration, insurance, and auto loan services for individual consumers across western Japan.
• Jack Shop Used Vehicle Retail Large-scale 3,000-tsubo used-car superstore showroom with on-site inspection, maintenance, body work, insurance, and loan services for consumers.
• C-BOY Used Car Purchasing Used car purchasing service and franchise network with stores across Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kinki regions, using auction-direct purchasing as a competitive advantage to buy vehicles from individual consumers.
• LAA Auto Auction Wholesale auto auction business operating as one of the largest auction venues in West Japan, centered on Okayama and Ehime with satellite locations in Tottori, Hyogo, and Kagawa, providing B2B vehicle trading venues for automotive dealers.
• Lec Auto Recycling Automotive recycling facility of approximately 8,000 tsubo in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture, handling end-of-life vehicle recycling for the group and external customers.
• City Light Rent-a-Car Car rental service offering approximately 100 vehicles equipped with navigation, back cameras, and ETC as standard, including new models for travel and business use by individual and corporate consumers.
• DS Store Okayama DS Automobiles authorized dealership operated by group company Royal Car Service, representing the Paris-born French luxury brand featuring stylish design and cutting-edge technology, with companion Citroen Okayama and Peugeot Okayama showrooms opening in 2025.
• Jeep Yonago Dealership Jeep authorized dealership in Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, the first Jeep dealer in the San'in region, selling new and used Jeep vehicles to individual consumers.
• Kawasaki Plaza Dealerships Kawasaki motorcycle authorized dealerships at multiple locations (Kurashiki, Kakogawa, Tokushima) offering full-lineup motorcycle sales, technical service centers, and Kawasaki Plaza motorcycle apparel.
• Himeji Kawasaki / BMW Motorrad Himeji BMW Motorrad authorized agency operating Motorrad Himeji, also handling domestic motorcycle brands (Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki) for new and used motorcycle sales in Himeji.
• Sequential Insurance Agency and Automotive Services Insurance agency and automotive services offered through group company Sequential Co., Ltd. in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, including auto, fire, life, and medical insurance products.
• LAP Membership Auto Sales Support Membership-based automotive sales support service providing tools and network infrastructure for used car industry development and member dealer prosperity.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stellantis Japan Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 June 2023DS Automobiles dealership partnership; Stellantis Japan granted City Light group company Royal Car Service authorization to operate DS Store Okayama, marking the first DS Store in the Chugoku-Shikoku region. Partnership expanded to include Peugeot and Citroën dealerships in Takamatsu.
• Kawasaki Motors Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2021Kawasaki motorcycle dealership franchise partnership; operates Kawasaki Plaza stores in Himeji, Kako, Kurashiki, and Tokushima; Kawasaki 401 club circuit event participation
• BMW Motorrad JapanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2021BMW Motorrad motorcycle dealership authorization for Motorrad Himeji location
• Kyokuto Suzuki Sales Co., Ltd. (旭東スズキ販売)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2020Subsidiary acquired in December 2020; operates as group company
• Okayama CityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2019Naming rights for City Light Fitness Court Okayama Minami sports facility; 15-year partnership through March 2034
• KIBITO Co., Ltd.minorOthers · 1 January 2019Group subsidiary established in 2019; operates from same headquarters location
• Sequential Co., Ltd.minorOthers · 1 January 2019Subsidiary acquired in 2019; automotive and insurance services in Hyogo region
• F.Tech Co., Ltd.minorOthers · 1 January 2018Subsidiary acquired in 2018; truck body modification and sales operations in Okayama
• Okayama PrefecturecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2015Naming rights partnership for Okayama Stadium renamed City Light Stadium; partnership renewed in 2019 for continued naming rights through January 2025
• L.A.P. Co., Ltd. (株式会社エル・エー・ピー)minorOthers · 1 January 2009Subsidiary established 2009; operates member-based automotive sales support service

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDOM Inc. (Gulliver): IDOM operates the Gulliver used-car retail chain nationwide in Japan with ~770 stores and a substantial online funnel. It is a broader incumbent in the same used-car retail category as City Light's Jack and City Light stores, with greater national scale but less regional density in western Japan.
• Nextage Co., Ltd. Nextage is a large used-car dealership chain (UNIVERSE, NEXTAGE brands) operating across major Japanese metros. It directly competes with City Light's used-car retail and purchase franchise model, with similar vertical integration into auctions and export, but with a national footprint.
• Big Motor Co., Ltd. Big Motor is one of Japan's largest used-car and auto-service retailers, now operating under a new corporate structure. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the same multi-brand used-car retail and service category as City Light's Jack and Lec operations.
• Yellow Hat Co., Ltd. Yellow Hat is a major Japanese retail chain for auto parts, accessories, and maintenance services. While not a direct auto dealer, it is broadly comparable to City Light's service-center and parts business under Jack, addressing overlapping customer demand across maintenance and aftermarket products.
• Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. Autobacs Seven operates the largest auto aftermarket retail chain in Japan. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the same customer base (Japanese vehicle owners) for service and parts spend, though focused on aftermarket rather than vehicle sales.

Direct peers

• USS Co., Ltd. (Used Car System Solutions): USS operates the largest used-car auction network in Japan with multiple venues. It is the most direct comparable to City Light's LAA auto auction business — both run physical auction venues, charge transaction fees, and serve as wholesale liquidity venues for regional dealers.
• TAA (Toyota Auto Auction): TAA operates Toyota-group affiliated auto auction venues across Japan. It competes with LAA for regional dealer auction throughput and is the closest direct competitor in the same wholesale used-vehicle auction category that is City Light's core LAA business.
• YSP (Yamaha Motor) dealer network: Yamaha's YSP dealer network is Japan's largest motorcycle dealership chain and directly comparable to City Light's Kawasaki Plaza and BMW Motorrad motorcycle retail subsidiaries, addressing the same two-wheeled vehicle buyer across Japanese regions.

Others

• Honda Trading Co., Ltd. (used-car export): Honda Trading operates used-car export and recycling businesses internationally. It is thematically comparable to City Light's stated export and Lec Auto Recycling operations as a larger, more international vehicle lifecycle player with similar end-of-life processing capabilities.

Regional players

• CAA Chubu (Chubu Auto Auction): CAA operates regional auto auction venues with similar transaction-fee economics to LAA. It is a regional auction peer; while its primary footprint is Chubu (closer to Nagoya) rather than Chugoku/Shikoku, it competes for the same regional dealer auction spend in adjacent markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 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 city light, co.,ltd