For left to right: Gosuke Ito, Japan Coordinator; Miguel Rodriguez, Assistant Manager, North American Aftermarket; Larrow Kaufman, Assistant General Manager, Business Development and North American Aftermarket; Kazuto Koyama, Chief Executive Officer, Aisin World Corp. of America and President, AISIN HOLDINGS OF AMERICA, INC.; Tomoyuki Furuta, Executive Vice President, OES; and Taku Uyama, Vice President, Carbon Neutrality Division, Aisin World Corp. of America.
In a continued show of engaged leadership and strategic alignment, AHA President Kazuto Koyama visited the AISIN Aftermarket & Service of America (AASA) Torrance office on April 9, 2025. Building on the groundwork laid during his visit last year, Mr. Koyama’s return further emphasized AISIN’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and sustained growth across both the OE and aftermarket sectors in North and South America.
The visit served as a platform for in-depth discussions with regional leadership, focused on current economic factors, industry trends, and AISIN’s expanding role in supporting vehicle manufacturers and the U.S. aftermarket.
Key Discussion Areas Included:
- Aisin Components on New Platforms: Mr. Koyama highlighted AISIN’s growing integration into new vehicle platforms across multiple global automakers, reinforcing the company’s trusted role in supplying world-class components for the next generation of vehicles.
- Tariffs and Currency Exchange: With ongoing fluctuations in global trade and the strength of the U.S. dollar against the yen, tariff impacts, and foreign exchange were examined as critical factors in AISIN’s pricing and sourcing strategies. Mr. Koyama emphasized a balanced, long-term approach to navigating these challenges.
- Market Forces Driving Demand: Topics included the effects of used vehicle pricing and new car sales volume on both OE and aftermarket demand. These insights are vital for forecasting, planning, and identifying high-opportunity product segments.
- U.S. Manufacturing Growth: Mr. Koyama shared updates on AISIN’s current U.S. production capabilities and future plans to expand local manufacturing. This aligns with AISIN’s ongoing strategy to enhance supply chain resilience and support the domestic market more directly.
- Aftermarket Strategy: With a close look at U.S. aftermarket conditions, the team reviewed product performance, upcoming launches, and ways to better meet the needs of service professionals and consumers. Several new product introductions for 2025 were also spotlighted.
- Customer & Partner Development: The conversation also focused on sales performance among key customers and explored new and expanded partnerships with OE suppliers, underscoring AISIN’s role as a collaborative force in the automotive supply chain.
For left to right: Gus Rodriguez, Senior Manager, Torrance Warehouse Operations; Kazuto Koyama, Chief Executive Officer, Aisin World Corp. of America and President, AISIN HOLDINGS OF AMERICA, INC.; Gosuke Ito, Japan Coordinator; Tomoyuki Furuta, Executive Vice President, OES; and Taku Uyama, Vice President, Carbon Neutrality Division, Aisin World Corp. of America.
Mr. Koyama’s visit fostered a tone of mutual respect, strategic focus, and open dialogue. He encouraged continued agility and collaboration as AISIN looks to the future—responding to market shifts with a blend of precision engineering, strong customer relationships, and forward-thinking investment.
As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, AISIN remains dedicated to delivering the technologies and components that help keep the world’s vehicles moving—efficiently, reliably, and sustainably….That is why we emphasize our commitment to Evolving Technology.