History of Rolling Stock Business

Through the manufacture of rail cars, we maintain harmony with our environment and promote the creation of new values for forming an abundant and beautiful world for our future. Kawasaki group has set its sights on growing as a corporation by contributing to its customers and society on a global scale by applying the philosophy of MONOZUKURI or "the art of manufacturing."
Since its inception, Kobe Head Office has produced some 90,000 rolling stock. By adhering to the principles of MONOZUKURI, Kawasaki has diligently pursued innovation and transformation so that its unmatched technology and products will continue to make history.

Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd. incorporated.

Hyogo Works established as a branch works of Kawasaki Dockyard; rolling stock manufacturing begins.

Completion of 3 electric-drive wooden coaches.

Our first steam locomotive No. 6704.

Hyogo Works incorporated as Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Pashina-type steam locomotive No. 979 manufactured as our 1500th steam locomotive.

Streamlined Moha 52type 4-car train delivered to the Ministry of Railways.

Production stopped just before the end of the war due to bombing damage caused to the works Production resumed in September.

Type 3000 8-car electric train delivered to Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

''Business Express Kodama'' 8-car train delivered to the Japan National Railways.

Type 2000 aluminum-alloy train, the first of its kind in Japan, delivered to Sanyo Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Series 0 Shinkansen electric train delivered to the Japanese National Railways.

Kawasaki Rolling Stock Mfg. together with Kawasaki Aircraft merged into Kawasaki Heavy industries, Ltd.

The first rubber-tired guideway subway train in Japan delivered to Sapporo Municipal Transportation Bureau.

Kobe Portliner, the first automated guideway transit system in Japan, is delivered to Kobe New Transit Co., Ltd.

Streetcar delivered to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the first Japanese cars built for North America.

325 R62 subway cars delivered to New York City Transit Authority (NYCT).

U.S. subsidiary established in Yonkers, New York.

The Yonkers Plant was established on the outskirts of New York and started operations.

Type 6K AC Electric locomotives delivered to the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.

C151 mass rapid transit (MRT) cars delivered to Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore.

Series 300 trial trains for Tokaido Shinkansen delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Bi-level commuter coaches delivered to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston, Massachusetts.

Series E1 all bi-level electric train for Tohoku and Jyoetsu Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Series 500 Shinkansen trains delivered to West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

Memorial ceremony for 100 year anniversary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. was held (90 year anniversary for Hyogo Works).

Prototype bi-level commuter coach for MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) delivered to the United States.

Series 700 Shinkansen trains delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Series E4 Shinkansen trains delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Order for 520 R142A subway cars received from New York City Transit (NYCT).

Order for 212 R143 subway cars received from New York City Transit (NYCT).

Order for 66 C751B MRT cars received from Land Transport Authority (LTA) of Singapore.

New Rail Car Manufacturing Facility established at KMM Lincoln Plant in Nebraska.

Hyogo West Plant is completed and starts parts production.

Order for 480 units of EMU (200km/h) received from the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China.

Began delivery of 700T trainsets to Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporarion (THSRC).

Advance production cars of Series N700 Shinkansen trains delivered to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

Joint venture established for rolling stock engineering in China. Established Qingdao Sifang Kawasaki Rolling Stock Technology Co., Ltd.

Completed construction of new general office building, the "Rolling Stock Main Office".

Completed SWIMO-X, prototype of Kawasaki’s battery-powered low-floor LRV.

Advance production cars of Series N700-7000 for Sanyo Shinkansen delivered to JR West.

Advance production cars of Series E5 for Tohoku Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Kawasaki completed its 1,000th electric locomotive.

Advance production cars of Series E6 for Akita Shinkansen delivered to JR East.

Order for 428 Series 7000 railcars received from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Signed a contract jointly with Alstom Transport S.A. of France and CTCI Corporation of Taiwan to provide the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, Taipei City Government (DORTS) with a railway system for the Taichung City Government.

Kawasaki Develops World's First Rolling Stock Bogie with a CFRP Frame and Suspension Function, efWING.

Order for 92 M-9 Passenger Cars received from Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad (MNR), both affiliated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

Singapore's Land Transport Authority Orders 364 MRT Cars for New Line.

Series E7/W7 Shinkansen delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA delivered to East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE delivered to West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM) based in Lincoln, Nebraska achieved the manufacturing milestone of 2,000 railcars.

Technology Collaboration Agreement signed with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to cooperate manufacturing stainless steel trains in India.

Order for 144 MRT cars and maintenance depot equipment for the first MRT system in Bangladesh received from Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), jointly with Mitsubishi Corporation.