Autobacs Seven
Autobacs Seven Company, Limited (株式会社オートバックスセブン, Kabushiki-gaisha Ōtobakksu Sebun) (TYO: 9832) is a retailer of automotive parts and accessories based in Japan with branches primarily in Asia, with stores also located in France.
Etymology
AUTO: Appeal, Unique, Tire, Oil
BACS: Battery, Accessory, Car audio, Service
History
The company was founded by Toshio Sumino, in 1947 at Fukushima-ku, Osaka as Fuji Syokai Co., Ltd. A year later he opened a second branch in Osaka. In 1960 Sumino opened the first large scale automotive goods store, the Fuji Drive Shop and in 1969 he was involved in motorsport sponsorship by sponsoring a car in the Japanese Grand Prix. In 1974, he opened the first of the Autobacs stores: the "AUTOBACS Higashi Osaka Store" in Daitō, Osaka. In the following year, Autobacs would run its first franchise store "AUTOBACS Hakodate Nakamichi Store" in Hakodate, Hokkaidō. In 1977 Autobacs would start to develop and sell its own motor oil and tire to be sold in its own store, and at the end of the decade opened their 100th store, and in 1984 opened their 200th store.