MEMO FOR RECORD: (SCAPIN - 2053)
WFM/MMC/ABO/MWH/WRCM/jtt
15 October 1949
1. Reference is memorandum for the Japanese Government from General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, AG 451.1 (3 Jun 47) ESS/IN, SCAPIN 1715, 3 June 1947, subj: Application for Permission to Manufacture Small-Sized Passenger Cars.
2. The provisions of SCAPIN 1715 reference 1 above are rescinded and the following is the automotive production program for JFY 1949:
Item Program in Units
a. Trucks and Buses - Large-Diesel 1,200
(trucks) - over 4 tons (1,000)
(buses) - over 4 tons (200)
b. Truck and Bus Chassis, Std Gasoline & Diesel - max. 4 tons 18,000
c. Truck, Small-Gasoline - 1/4 ton 6,000
d. Truck, 3-Wheel-Gasoline - 1/4 ton 20,000
e. Small Passenger Car (under 1600 cc. P.D.) - Gasoline - 1/4 ton 5,000
f. Motorcycles 1,500
g. Motorscooter 4,800 (see par 9, below)
h. Electromobiles - Battery
Passenger Cars - 1/4 ton) 2,400 (see par 10, below)
Trucks - 1/4 ton)
Buses none
Conversions none
i. Trailers 480
j. Bodies – Standard 23,400
3. Reference par. 2a, the 1,200 large Diesel trucks and buses are in accordance with C.T.S. request to satisfy their minimum transportation requirements. E.S.B. requested 960.
Production of the above 1,200 programmed trucks and buses together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity (chassis only) Production Jun 49 (chassis only)
Kongo Seisakusho K.K. 35 10
Mensei Sangyo K.K. 65 40
Hino Diesel Kogyo K.K. 100 40
Ikegai Jidosha Seizo K.K. 5 2
Total 205 92
NOTE: Bodies are built by truck and bus body builders.
4. Reference par. 2b, truck and bus chassis, standard, C. T. S. requested 14, 638, E.S.B. requested 21,000. Program authorizes 18,000, 15% less than the E.S.B. request and 20% over the C.T.S. request. This increase is because of the elimination of electric buses and in favor of the industry inasmuch as the C.T.S. request was a minimum figure.
Producers of the above 18,000 programmed trucks and buses together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity (chassis only) Production Jun 49 (chassis only)
Toyota Jidosha Kogyo K.K. 1,200 661
Nissan Jidosha K.K. 1,200 701
Isuzu Jidosha 450 350
Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. (Kyoto) 100 30
Mitsubishi Jukogyo K. K. (Kawasaki) 50 30
Totals 3,000 1,772
NOTE: Bodies are built by truck and bus body builders.
5. Reference par. 2c, 6,000 small gasoline trucks have been authorized compared with the C.T.S. request for 5,500 and the E.S.B. authorized compared with the C.T.S. request for 5,500 and the E.S.B. request for 5,400. This increase is because of the possiblity of the Japanese obtaining petroleum product and rubber through barter and trade agreements instead of from appropriated funds.
Producers of the above 6,000 programmed small, 1/4 ton, gasoline trucks together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity Production June 1949
Toyota Jidosha Kogyo K.K. 500 204
Nissan Tidosha K.K. 600 415
Koshoku Kikan Kogyo K.K. 150 95
Totals 1,250 *714
NOTE: Bodies are built by truck body builders. *Chassis for truck only.
6. Reference par 2d, 20,000 3-wheel trucks have been authorized C.T.S. requested 9,500, E.S.B. requested 24,000. Increased to 20,000 because of the possibility that petroleum products and rubber would be obtained through barter and trade agreements instead of from appropriated funds.
Producers of the above 20,000 programmed 3-wheel gasoline trucks together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity Production June 1949
Hatsudoki Seizo K.K. 580 490
Toyo Kogyo K.K. 580 490
Nihon Nainenki K.K. 200 185
Shin Aichi Kigyo K.K. 250 185
Mitsui Seiki K.K. 120 85
Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. 440 404
Meiwa Kogyo K.K. 250 235
Nishin Kogyo K.K. 80 65
Totals 2,500 2,139
7. Reference par. 2e, 5,000 units of small passenger cars are authorized. C.T.S. requested 300 and E.S.B. requested 3,000. The liberal increase is because of the possibility of securing petroleum products and rubber through barter and trade agreements. With the authorization of these 5,000 cars, reference par. 1 above, SCAPIN 1715 is rescinded.
Producers of the above 5,000 programmed small, 1/4 ton, gasoline passenger cars, together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity Production June 1949
Toyota Jidosha Kogyo K.K. 500 None
Nissan Jidosha K.K. 600 None
Koshoku Kikan Kogyo K.K. 150 None
Total 1,250 *None
NOTE: Bodies are built by body builders. *Chassis for passenger cars. (Ref. SCAPIN 1715)
8. Reference par. 2f, 1,500 motorcycles have been authorized which is in accordance with C.T.S. request. E.S.B. requested 1,200 units. Producers of the above 1,500 programmed motorcycles, together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below;
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity Production June 1949
Rikuo Nainenki K.K. 60 46
Miyata Seisakusho K.K. 60 45
Showa Seisakusho K.K. 30 15
Maruyama Seisakusho K.K. 40 30
Meguro Seisakusho K.K. 60 45
Totals 250 181
9. Reference par. 2g, - E.S.B. requested 7,200 motorscooters, C.T.S. - none. The current production rate of approximately 800 per month is to be reduced during the current quarter so that by the end of the third quarter JFY 1949 production for domestic use will be eliminated entirely.
10. Reference par. 2h, E.S.B. has requested 1, 760 battery operated vehicles, this number to be divided among 1/4 ton chassis and bodies for small passenger cars and trucks, buses and conversions. C.T.S. requested no electric buses, unlimited production on conversions, and unlimited production on 1/4 ton chassis to be equipped with either passenger bodies or truck bodies. Program calls for the production of 2,400, 1/4 ton vehicles which will be equipped with either passenger bodies or truck bodies. The chassis construction is identical for either type body. This total of 2,400 is based on their present estimated capacity of 200 units per month, the 6 makers to share in the total according to their individual plant capacity. Current production rate is approximately 130 units per month for the 6 makers. If at the end of 3 months, following the release of this production program, it is found that production of these small battery vehicles is in excess of current requirements, monthly production will be curtailed accordingly in order to conserve on critical raw materials.
Producers of the above 2,400 programmed 1/4 ton battery operated vehicles, together with their monthly capacity and production for June 1949 are shown below:
Name of Maker Monthly Production Capacity Production June 1949
Kobe Seiko K.K. 20 9
Nihon Denki Jidosha 50 39
Sekisan Seiko 6 4
Teikoku Denki 30 21
Tokyo Denki Jidosha 80 45
Universal Denki Jidosha 14 12
Totals 200 130
NOTE: Bodies are built by body builders.
11. Manufacture of passenger vehicles with over 1,600 cc piston displacement for domestic use is not authorized.
12. Manufacture of automotive vehicles of any type for export is authorized contingent upon the receipt of validated export orders.
13. In arriving at this production program for JFY 1949, the following factors have been taken into consideration:
a. The program submitted by C.T.S. was designed to meet minimum freight and passenger requirements.
b. Efforts that are now being made to obtain, thru barter or trade agreements, petroleum products and rubber, both of which are at present procured with appropriated funds.
c. The advisability of being as liberal as possible in consideration of the automotive industry, - bearing in mind their present ability to produce and their desire to improve this productive ability, better enabling them to meet future demands with an improved product at a competitive price.
14. The above program does not include vehicles for export since such production cannot be programmed in advance. This Division however, is well aware of the desirability of export and the advisability of placing the automotive industry in a productive position whereby it can meet immediately any export demands. This is done by permitting a maximum, yet reasonable domestic production program.
15. With reference to par. 2c above, the production of these small passenger cars is now limited by SCAPIN 1715, reference 1, above, to 300 per year. This SCAPIN is rescinded in view of the present policy on eliminating controls wherever possible. Production of these small cars will be controlled by the allocation of the materials necessary to satisfy the approved program, as is now being done with all other machinery and equipment.
16. Surveillance by Eighth Army is unnecessary.
17. Concurrence: C.T.S.
Mr. W. R. C. Melyan: 26-5647
M. M. C.