Akebono was established in Japan in 1929, at a time when the Japanese automobile industry had only produced 400 vehicles. It became a publicly traded company in 1957. Since then, keeping pace with the onset of motorization, Akebono has entered the domestic and overseas markets as brake experts.

In 1960, Akebono signed a brake-related technical assistance agreement with Bendix Corporation in the United States and began drum brake assembly based on received patents. Its American aftermarket operations began in 1980 with sales offices in Chicago and R&D facilities in Detroit. Today, Akebono employs more than 3,500 people in North America and more than 9,000 worldwide.

What does Akebono mean?

Akebono means “dawn” in Japanese and was the name given to the company by its founder, Mr. Sanji Osame. The inspiration for the name came from his hometown of Mokakeson in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, where he was fond of watching the breaking dawn over the Seto Inland Sea from Mushiage Bay.

About Akebono

The company’s commitment to innovation, process improvement, quality control and customer service has positioned it as a key resource for leading OEMs, Tier I brake suppliers and the automotive aftermarket. Key automotive OEM customers include Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Stellantis, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo. Akebono is proud to provide innovative braking solutions for these manufacturers, and we back our products with unparalleled service and support.

Akebono manufactures a wide range of brake friction materials and foundation brake assemblies, including disc brake calipers and drum brakes, as well as latest technology EPB braking (electric park brakes), all employing the Akebono Production System (APS). The APS approach features proven quality control techniques to guarantee minimal process variation in all phases of production. Embraced throughout the organization, APS enables the company to consistently achieve nearly zero defects per million parts produced.

Akebono operates R&D technical centers in the United States, Japan and France and manufactures brake friction materials and components around the globe, with 30 wholly owned or affiliated facilities, including two production facilities in Kentucky and one in Mexico. All of Akebono’s operations have secured appropriate ISO/TS16949 certifications and have won numerous quality and performance awards from customers.

Explore our line of Ultra-Premium Brake Pads, designed by our OE engineers to meet the needs of our aftermarket customers. You’ll find that Akebono truly is The Essence of Braking®. Look for an Akebono dealer near you, and get the safety, reliability and performance that only a global leader in brake products can provide.