Our History

Jan 2025

Retail / Wholesale

Acquired up to 100% of Autopact Pty Ltd's shares, making it a wholly owned subsidiary

Dec 2024

Client Services

Additional acquisition of up to 75.9% of the shares of Auto Trader Media Group Ltd

Nov 2024

Retail / Wholesale

Established Autopact Holdings Pty Ltd in Australia under OPT AU, and incorporated Autopact Pty Ltd

Aug 2024

Group

Optimus Group Co., Ltd. relocated its head office to Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Aug 2024

Export / Import

Established Nichibo Japan Trading UK Limited to manage Nichibo's trading business

Aug 2024

Logistics

Daiwa Logistics Co., Ltd. relocated its head office to Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo

May 2024

Logistics

Acquired 100% of the shares in Autocare Services Pty Ltd, an Australian integrated automotive logistics company, and made it a subsidiary​

Apr 2024

Inspection

Established VITA Australia Pty Ltd to conduct inspections of imported vehicles in Australia​

Apr 2024

Group

A four-for-one stock split of the Company's common stock

Dec 2023

Client Services

Acquired a 51% stake in Auto Trader Media Group Ltd, which operates an online car marketplace in New Zealand, and made it a subsidiary​

Nov 2023

Retail / Wholesale

Acquired a 91.7% stake in Autopact Pty Ltd, a leading new car dealership group in Australia, making it a subsidiary

Jun 2023

Retail / Wholesale

OPT AU invested 30% in joint ventures with Australian companies to establish Car Empire Pty Ltd, an imported used car retailer, and other entities, making them equity-method affiliates

Apr 2023

Inspection

JEVIC Co., Ltd. was certified as the first registered inspection agency under the Plant Protection Act and began providing plant inspection services

Jan 2023

Inspection

Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre Co., Ltd. changed its company name to JEVIC Co., Ltd

Nov 2022

Client Services

OPT AU increased its stake in Blue Flag Pty Ltd to 60%, making it a subsidiary

Jul 2022

Client Services

Exited the car rental business in New Zealand and liquidated Universal Rental Car Limited

Apr 2022

Group

A three-for-one stock split of Optimus Group's common stock​

Apr 2022

Group

Transitioned from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section to the Standard Market following market segment restructuring

Jan 2022

Client Services

Acquired a 40% stake in Blue Flag Pty Ltd, an Australian automotive data service provider, making it an equity-method affiliate​

Nov 2021

Retail / Wholesale

OPT AU increased its stake in OzCar Pty Ltd to 30%

May 2021

Retail / Wholesale

OPT AU increased its stake in OzCar Pty Ltd to 20%, making it an equity-method affiliate

Feb 2021

Logistics

Daiwa Logistics Co., Ltd. relocated its head office from Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Minato Ward, Tokyo​

May 2020

Inspection

JEVIC UK Limited suspended business activities and became dormant

May 2020

Export / Import

Established Global Carz Pty Ltd as a pilot company for the used car import and export business in Australia

Nov 2019

Retail / Wholesale

Acquired a 10% stake in OzCar Pty Limited, an Australian used car retail dealership group, through a capital and business alliance to expand operations in Australia

Apr 2019

Client Services

Universal Rental Cars Limited acquired the business and assets of USAVE Car & Truck Rentals Limited in New Zealand

Feb 2019

Group

Optimus Group Co., Ltd. relocated its head office to Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo​

Nov 2018

Logistics

Port Service Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Daiwa Logistics Co., Ltd. through a share exchange

Oct 2018

Logistics

Reorganized DSNZ under OPT NZ and DSAUS under OPT AU, with each managed independently by region

Oct 2018

Client Services

UFCo became a subsidiary of OPT NZ, and the service business subsidiaries were reorganized under UFCo

Sep 2018

Group

Established Optimus Group Australia Pty Ltd (hereinafter “OPT AU”) to strengthen business management in Australia

Sep 2018

Client Services

Exited the import, wholesale, and retail business of new vehicles and related operations of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, and liquidated MD Distributors Limited

Sep 2018

Logistics

Daiwa Shipping Co., Ltd., as the surviving company, absorbed Tokai Logistics Co., Ltd. through a merger and changed its name to Daiwa Logistics Co., Ltd., aiming to integrate and operate the used car export-related business

Sep 2018

Logistics

Transferred the business assets of DSAUS’s New Zealand branch to DSA, and renamed DSA to Dolphin Shipping New Zealand Limited (hereinafter “DSNZ”)

Aug 2018

Group

Established Optimus Group New Zealand Limited (hereinafter “OPT NZ”) to strengthen business management in New Zealand

Dec 2017

Group

Optimus Group Co., Ltd. was listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)​

May 2016

Logistics

Dolphin Shipping Australia Pty Ltd established a branch in New Zealand​

Mar 2016

Client Services

Universal Rental Cars Limited launched its car rental business in New Zealand

Mar 2016

Inspection

Acquired an additional 50% of the shares in Fasttrack Automotive Compliance 2006 Limited in New Zealand, making it a wholly owned subsidiary

Mar 2016

Logistics

Acquired 100% of the shares of Port Service Ltd, Daiwa Shipping Co., Ltd., and Tokai Logistics Co., Ltd. in Japan; Dolphin Shipping Agencies Limited (hereinafter “DSA”) in Australia, which operates an NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) business for used cars; and Dolphin Shipping Australia Pty Ltd (hereinafter “DSAUS”)

Feb 2016

Client Services

Established Universal Rental Cars Limited as a car rental business​

Mar 2015

Inspection

Acquired 50% of the shares of Fasttrack Automotive Compliance 2006 Limited, a maintenance company for imported used car inspections in New Zealand

Mar 2015

Client Services

Acquired 100% of the shares of Auto Advance Finance Limited, a debt collection agency for Nichibo Co., Ltd.; Trade Cars Limited, an imported car wholesaler; Auto Finance Direct Limited, a car loan company for consumers; and MD Distributors Limited, a new car and tractor sales company for automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, all based in New Zealand

Feb 2015

Group

Established Universal Finance Company Limited (hereinafter “UFCo”) as a company to manage service business subsidiaries in New Zealand

Feb 2015

Inspection

Established Inspicere Limited to manage inspection business subsidiaries in New Zealand

Jan 2015

Group

Established the company through a sole-share transfer by Nichibo (Japan Trading) Co., Ltd. to form a holding company

Jan 2015

Export / Import

Nichibo (Japan Trading) Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary following a share transfer

Jul 2014

Logistics

Established Dolphin Shipping Australia Pty Ltd to operate as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) for the export of used cars to Australia

Sep 2013

Client Services

Proton Vehicles 2012 Limited changed its name to MD Distributors Limited​

Feb 2013

Inspection

Acquired 100% of the shares of Vehicle Inspection New Zealand Limited, listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, through a takeover bid (TOB)

Jan 2013

Client Services

Budget Car Auctions 2013 Limited launched its used car sales business in New Zealand​

Oct 2012

Inspection

Acquired 100% of the shares of JEVIC UK Limited in the United Kingdom

Jun 2012

Client Services

Proton Vehicles 2012 Limited commenced a new car import and wholesale business with Indian automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in New Zealand

Feb 2012

Logistics

Established Dolphin Shipping Agencies Limited in New Zealand to operate as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) for used cars​

Nov 2011

Logistics

Established Daiwa Shipping Co., Ltd. in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, to provide maritime and land transportation services, including agency operations

Nov 2010

Client Services

Auto Finance Direct Limited is registered as a financial services provider with the New Zealand government​

Jul 2010

Logistics

Established Tokai Logistics Co., Ltd. in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to provide land transportation coordination and comprehensive support for export procedures

May 2010

Client Services

Universal Property Limited began property management operations in New Zealand​

Apr 2009

Client Services

Auto Finance Direct Limited began offering car loans to consumers in New Zealand​

Dec 2008

Retail / Wholesale

Trade Cars Limited started retailing imported used cars in New Zealand​

Oct 2006

Inspection

Fasttrack Automotive Compliance 2006 Limited began providing vehicle inspection and maintenance services for imported used cars in New Zealand

Sep 2004

Client Services

Auto Advance Finance Limited launched a debt collection support business for Nichibo (Japan Trading) Co., Ltd. in New Zealand

Jul 2003

Inspection

Established JEVIC NZ Limited in New Zealand to handle debt collection for JEVIC Co., Ltd.

Feb 2003

Inspection

JEVIC Co., Ltd. relocated its head office from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture to Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture​

Jun 2002

Export / Import

Nichibo Japan Trading Co. changed its company name to Nichibo (Japan Trading) Co., Ltd.

Sep 2001

Inspection

Established Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center (JEVIC) Company Limited in Japan to perform pre-shipment inspections of used cars

Jan 1998

Logistics

Established Port Service Ltd in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, to provide cleaning and maintenance services for used cars before export inspection and quarantine

May 1989

Export / Import

Nichibo Japan Trading Co., Ltd. launched a full-scale used car export business to New Zealand​

Apr 1988

Export / Import

Established Nichibo Japan Trading Co. in Japan and commenced the seafood import business