Kawasaki Motors Europe N. V.

In 1878 Shozo Kawasaki, the founder, opened a shipyard to build ocean-going steel ships.

In 1896, Kawasaki Dockyard was incorporated and Kojiro Matsukata was appointed first president of the company.

Fabrication of locomotives, freight cars, passenger carriages and bridge girders began in 1906 at the newly opened Hyogo Works.

In the following year, production of marine steam turbines began at the dockyard.

During 1918, the Aircraft Department was established at the Hyogo Works only 15 years after the Wright brothers' virgin flight.

The following year saw the beginning of many changes as The Marine Freight Department was split off to form Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K-Line).

In 1928, the Hyogo Works was split off to become Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

The Aircraft Department became Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd. in 1937.

In 1950, the Steel Making Department became Kawasaki Steel Corporation.

In 1961, the first Kawasaki brand motorcycle was produced by Kawasaki Aircraft Co., Ltd.

Then in 1969, Kawasaki Dockyard, Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing and Kawasaki Aircraft merged into one giant corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., to better compete in the emerging and very competitive global market.