Caterham has been sold to the Japanese retail team, VT Holdings, marking the initially time the iconic brand name has passed from British command in its in close proximity to 50-calendar year heritage.
The sale isn’t entirely out of the blue, as VT Holdings has been Caterham’s Japanese importer due to the fact 2009, advertising extra than 120 Caterham automobiles per year across its community of two hundred dealers. So the new entrepreneurs have a fairly very good grasp on Caterham’s vital ideals.
The firm’s Chief Executive, Kazuho Takahashi, also shares lots of of Caterham’s passions, like a passion for racing. Throughout the past 20 many years, he’s competed in the Japanese Grand Touring Vehicle, Tremendous GT and Tremendous Taikyu championships, saying a few of wins and a handful of podiums all through his job.
Takahashi has now retired from the quickest Japanese racing series, as he recently turned 68 many years previous but he’s continue to racing sporting activities automobiles in the lesser divisions. He also looks to favour British automobiles as, for the final few of many years, he’s raced a Lotus Evora.
Commenting on his company’s acquisition of Caterham, Takahashi reported: VT Holdings is very pleased to welcome Caterham to the team. We have not only bought a globally renowned overall performance auto maker but grow to be custodians of a motoring legend. We will defend and create the Seven to meet the legislative issues that lie in advance.”
Graham MacDonald, main government of Caterham Autos, added: “Takahashi-san and the staff genuinely recognize the DNA of the Caterham brand name, our heritage, our shoppers and our passions. As a staff, we’re all enthusiastic about starting to generate the upcoming chapter for this quite special brand name.”
VT Holdings has also invested in the Thai and South African markets, meaning Caterham could shortly look to extend its product sales community. At the moment, the British brand name sells to 20 markets all over the entire world, with exports accounting for sixty p.c of its product sales.
Hungry for extra Caterham content? Read our overview of the Caterham Tremendous Seven 1600 here…
