© 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press launch issued By Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.:
Kawasaki Celebrates Powersports Pioneer within the U.S.
Foothill Ranch, CA (April 27, 2023) – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is saddened to share the information that former Kawasaki govt Yoji “George” Hamawaki handed away on April 18, 2023. Mr. Hamawaki established the Kawasaki model in the US, introduced Kawasaki manufacturing to America and helped form fashions for the US market together with the long-lasting Kawasaki H2 and Z1.
In 1966, Mr. Hamawaki established American Kawasaki Motors Corp. and started working intently with Alan Masek to develop the Kawasaki vendor community throughout America with complete insurance policies, promoting supplies and repair coaching. Whereas constructing the dealership and gross sales community, Hamawaki and Masek additionally studied the buyer wants and mannequin options and communicated that data again to Japan. That suggestions was instrumental in Kawasaki launching the 1969 Kawasaki H1 and later, the long-lasting “New York Steak” 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, which solidified Kawasaki as a superbike model not solely in America, however throughout the globe.
To additional differentiate the Kawasaki model from its competitors, Mr. Hamawaki labored intently together with his American group together with Masek and Paul Collins to extend the model’s advertising, promotion, and promoting. Kawasaki debuted the “Let the Good Instances Roll®” promoting marketing campaign and tagline, a theme that continues to be integral to the DNA of the Kawasaki model.
Along with establishing the Kawasaki model to the U.S. buyer, Mr. Hamawaki additionally established Kawasaki as the primary Japanese producer to carry an meeting plant to the US creating Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing (KMM) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kawasaki turned the primary overseas motorcar manufacturing/meeting manufacturing facility on U.S. soil with main manufacturing and manufacturing facility requirements, low turnover and aggressive wage charges. KMM started with manufacturing of the Kawasaki KZ400, Z1 and Jet Ski. KMM stays one of many largest non-public employers in Lincoln, Nebraska at the moment.
Mr. Hamawaki was the muse for the Kawasaki model we all know at the moment, having pioneered the model because the Good Instances Firm. Mr. Hamawaki departed Kawasaki in 1978 and went on to turn out to be President of BMW Japan, President of Japan’s Digital Tools Firm and was inducted into the Japan Automotive Corridor of Fame.
