History

In 1958, Makita Corporation, which was founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, became the first company in Japan to manufacture and sell electric planers. Since then, we have pursued expansion on a global scale, evolving to overcome challenges while meeting the needs of our customers and the times. Makita's history also parallels that of the evolution of power tools and, over the course of its history, Makita has worked to dovetail its products to its customers' developing needs.

history table
Mar. 1915	Mosaburo Makita founded Makita Electric Works (proprietorship) in Nagoya City. Began selling and repairing lighting equipment, motors, and transformers.
Sep. 1935	First exported electric generators and motors to the Soviet Union.
Dec. 1938	Incorporated the proprietorship's business form and established Makita Electric Works, Inc.
Apr. 1945	Moved the plant, in an attempt to avoid air raid, to the current head office in Sumiyoshi-Cho, Anjo-City.
Jan. 1958	Started marketing 1000 portable electric planers, the first product in Japan.
Nov. 1959	Transformed into an electric power tool manufacturer.
	Initiated exports of electric power tools with shipment of 1300 hand-held electric planers to Australia.
May 1962	Changed the trade name to Makita Electric Works, Ltd.
Aug. 1962	Went public and listed the company in the 2nd Section of Nagoya Stock Exchange.
Mar. 1963	Became an entirely debt-free company.
Aug. 1968	Listed the company in the 2nd Section of Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
Apr. 1969	Launched 6500D battery-powered drill (first rechargeable power tool).
Jul. 1970	Designated to the 1st Section of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Stock Exchanges. (Osaka listing terminated in February 2003.)
	Established Makita U.S.A. Inc. in the United States.
	Established a new facility, Okazaki Plant.
Sep. 1971	Established Makita France S.A. in France. (Changed the name to Makita France SAS in April 2004.)
Dec. 1972	Established Makita Electric (U.K.) Ltd. in the United Kingdom. (Changed the name to Makita (U.K.) Ltd. in December 1992.)
May 1973	Established Makita (Australia) Pty. Ltd. in Australia.
Jun. 1973	Listed on Amsterdam Stock Exchange using Continental Depositary Receipts (CDR). (Amsterdam listing terminated in February 2004.)
Nov. 1973	Established Makita Power Tools Canada Ltd. in Canada. (Changed the name to Makita Canada Inc. in January 1991.)
Feb. 1977	Started trading of American Depository Receipt on NASDAQ. (NASDAQ listing terminated in April 2013.)
Apr. 1977	Established Makita Werkzeug GmbH in Germany.
Dec. 1978	Launched 6010D rechargeable drill (first nickel cadmium battery tool).
Apr. 1980	Started production of power tools in Canada. (Production terminated in January 2009.)
Feb. 1981	Launched AN5000 pneumatic nailer and AC6001 air compressor (first air tools).
Jun. 1981	Established Makita Brasil Ferramentas Elétricas Ltda. in Brazil. (Started production of power tools in South America.)
Feb. 1982	Issued European Depositary Receipts (EDR) and listed on Luxembourg Stock Exchange. (Luxembourg listing terminated in June 1998.)
Apr.1983	Established Makita Power Tools Singapore Ltd. in Singapore. (Changed the name to Makita Singapore Pte.Ltd. in April 1991.)
Jun. 1984	Launched UH3000D battery-powered hedge trimmer (first cordless outdoor power equipment).
Sep. 1984	Established Makita Corporation of America in the United States.
Nov. 1985	Started production of power tools in the United States.
Mar. 1987	Power tools became subject to retaliatory tariffs due to semiconductor market trade friction between the U.S. and Japan.
May 1989	Changed the year end from February 20 to March 31.
Jul. 1989	Exhibited Three power tools (circular saw, grinder, drill) designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at the Word Design Exposition held in Nagoya City.
Dec. 1989	Established Makita Manufacturing Europe Ltd. in the United Kingdom.
Jan. 1991	Acquired Sachs Dolmar GmbH, chain saw manufacturer in Germany. (now known as Makita Engineering Germany GmbH).
Apr. 1991	Changed the name to Makita Corporation.
Jul. 1991	Started production of power tools in U.K., first in Europe.
May 1992	Opened Nissin Office.
	Anti-dumping suit filed against Makita in the United States.
Mar 1993	Established of Makita's global environment charter (Makita's first year of the environment).
Dec. 1993	Established Makita (China) Co., Ltd. in China.
Jul. 1995	Started production of power tools in China.
Apr. 1997	Established Makita Gulf FZE. in the United Arab Emirates.
Aug. 1997	Exhibited 6213D rechargeable driver-drill at the Chicago Hardware Show (first nickel hydride battery tool).
Nov. 2000	Established Makita (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. in China.
Feb. 2005	Launched TD130D cordless impact driver (first lithium-ion battery tool).
May 2005	Established Makita EU S.R.L. in Romania.
Jan. 2006	Acquired nailer business from Kanematsu-NNK Corp.
Apr. 2007	Started production of power tools in Romania.
May 2007	Made Fuji Robin Industries Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary. (Changed the name to Makita Numazu Corporation in August 2007, and merged into the Company in April 2013.)
Mar. 2011	Established Makita Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand.
Jul. 2012	Started production of power tools in Thailand.
Mar. 2015	Celebrated 100th anniversary.
May 2018	Established Makita Engineering Korea Co., Ltd.
Aug. 2018	Established Makita Africa Limited in Tanzania.
Mar. 2019	Made Amadera Pneumatics Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary. (Merged into the Company in June 2021.)
Oct. 2019	Launched the Li-ion 40Vmax series.
Mar. 2022	Terminated production of engine-powered equipment.
Jul. 2022	Established Makita International Procurement Co., Ltd. in Taiwan.
Oct. 2022	Established Electronic Control Development Center (Tokyo Office).