Cars built in Japan before World War II tended to be based on European or American models . The 1917 Mitsubishi Model A was based on the Fiat A3-3 design . ( This model was considered to be the first mass-produced car in Japan , with 22 units produced . ) In the 1930s , Nissan Motors ' cars were based on the Austin 7 and Graham-Paige designs , while the Toyota AA model was based on the Chrysler Airflow . Ohta built cars in the 1930s based on Ford models , while Chiyoda built a car resembling a 1935 Pontiac , and Sumida built a car similar to a LaSalle . Automobile manufacture from Japanese companies was struggling , despite investment efforts by the Japanese Government . The 1923 Great Kantō earthquake devastated most of Japan 's fledgling infrastructure and truck and construction equipment manufacturing benefited from recovery efforts . Yanase & Co. , Ltd. ( 株式会社ヤナセ Yanase Kabushiki gaisha ) was an importer of American-made cars to Japan and contributed to disaster recovery efforts by importing GMC trucks and construction equipment . By bringing in American products , Japanese manufacturers were able to examine the imported vehicles and develop their own products
1923 Great Kantō earthquake
1923 Great Kantō earthquake
Automotive industry in Japan