Development of products and services that solve social issues
Tokai Rika has grown by providing products—in essence, the things—that connect people and cars.
Moving forward, we will continue to carry the founding spirit to “do what others won't do” while evolving and deepening our technologies and track record cultivated in the automotive and mobility domains to contribute to safe, secure, and prosperous mobility lives. We will also expand our business beyond the automotive and mobility domains by offering services that solve social issues and problems, thereby contributing to ever safer, more secure, and more prosperous lives.
Contributing to local communities and the planet: Biomass composite material BAMBOO+®
As global warming and resource depletion become increasingly severe, realizing a sustainable society has become an urgent priority. In the manufacturing sector, it is essential that we reduce our environmental impact and work in harmony with local communities.
BAMBOO+® is a new material for industrial molding we created by fiberizing locally sourced bamboo with proprietary technology and then compositing it with resin. Because approximately half of BAMBOO+® can be composed of bamboo fiber, it significantly reduces the use of petroleum-derived materials. Furthermore, harvesting bamboo prevents the growth of abandoned bamboo forests, contributing to the preservation of satoyama landscapes and ecosystems.
We are advancing this project in cooperation with local communities to establish a sustainable business model that makes use of Japanese bamboo. We are hoping BAMBOO+® will not merely be an eco-friendly material but that it will also help revitalize local economies and improve the overall well-being of society.
Molded products can feature designs that highlight natural patterns and textures, eliminating the need for painting or decorative film. We anticipate their application in automotive interior components and various other fields. Our decades of expertise in developing automotive components—focused on what the eye sees and the hand feels—were leveraged to create a material that harmonizes performance with design.
Toward zero wheel separation accidents: “Tengo Furai,” a predictive detection system
In recent years, accidents involving wheel separation of heavy-duty vehicles have continued to occur frequently, with Japan alone recording 120 such accidents in FY 2024. Investigation of these accidents revealed that some vehicles were not properly inspected, cleaned, lubricated, or had deteriorated parts replaced during wheel removal and installation, and that some wheels were not retightened after removal and installation*.
This system utilizes the sensor and communication technologies that we have cultivated in the development of our existing products to constantly monitor the vehicle while it is in motion, detecting anomalies in the early stages of nut loosening and notifying the driver of signs that the wheel may be about to fall off. This makes it possible to more accurately and easily identify signs of a wheel separation without relying on driving experience, thereby reducing the driver’s workload. The fact that the system can be installed in vehicles already on the market, regardless of make, model, or year, is an area that no other company has been able to tackle until now, and it carries on the spirit of our founder, who said, “Do what others won’t do.”
To make this system available for as many drivers as possible, it was (as of November 2025) made eligible for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s subsidy for Advanced Safety Vehicles (ASVs).
*Surveyed by the Logistics and Motor Vehicles Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:
https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/content/001912901.pdf
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Puritto Bait pesticide for Argentine ants, a designated invasive species
We developed the grease-based bait agent “Puritto Bait” to combat the Argentine ant, an invasive species threatening ecosystems. We worked in collaboration with the National Institute for Environmental Studies[tnb2.1], and applied the grease-related expertise we had cultivated as an automotive parts manufacturer.
This pesticide—which is primarily composed of natural ingredients, is rain- and wind-resistant, and can easily be applied to vertical surfaces—solves the problems associated with conventional products and dramatically improves the continuity of pest control operations.
Furthermore, we are not simply selling products, but also functioning as a hub connecting government, local communities, and businesses. Specifically, we are building a new, sustainable pest control model based on public-private partnership that incorporates the automotive industry’s culture of Kaizen. Our initiatives include developing pest control plans, providing guidance on control methods, and organizing joint workshops.
In a field trial in Kani City, Gifu Prefecture, we successfully reduced the ant’s habitat by over 95% within a short timeframe. We now collaborate with numerous local governments in the Tokai region and, as of October 2025, have been conducting pest control regularly across vast areas totaling 161 hectares (roughly equivalent to 34 Tokyo Domes). This initiative has received academic backing through a conference presentation by the National Institute for Environmental Studies. It has also been recognized externally for its social significance and innovation, winning the Sustainable Design prize at the Ministry of the Environment’s Good Life Award, and placing in the top 100 at the GOOD DESIGN AWARD.
With plans to expand this pest control model nationwide, we will continue undertaking this brand-new, sustainable business venture that both conserves biodiversity and enhances corporate value.
Digital educational toy “Touch Pen”
Stimulating children’s curiosity with haptic technology
“Touch Tech” is a digital educational service for young children that combines an iPad app with a dedicated Touch Pen to provide a tactile experience in the digital realm. We co-developed the Touch Pen with People Co., Ltd, leveraging the latest haptic technology we’ve cultivated as an automotive parts manufacturer.
Features of the Touch Pen
- Designed with safety in mind for carefree play from 18 months old
- Over 300 distinct textures* fine-tuned with a proprietary algorithm to ensure clear tactile differentiation
*Includes sensations like cutting objects with knives, saws, and scissors, and animal textures
In daily life, although children show interest in many things, they often can’t fully experience them due to dangers and time constraints. With Touch Tech, children can enjoy these experiences digitally anytime, anywhere, and as much as they like. The tactile experience improves both concentration and memory retention, and sparks their curiosity to try things in everyday life.
Sense of touch is more sensitive in early childhood than in adulthood, and children gather information every day through various tactile stimuli. Adding experiences that stimulate the sense of touch—not just sight and hearing—is said to foster the abilities to think actively and concentrate, and also makes information easier to retain.
Moving forward, we will continue to leverage our reliability and technical expertise as an automotive parts manufacturer to develop products that bring safety, security, and comfort to daily life.
Company-car management system “Bqey”
Implemented a mechanism that prevents drunk driving; system has also strengthened corporate compliance
We have offered the company car management system “Bqey” since 2022, which enables all necessary steps involved in using company cars to be completed on a smartphone—from car reservations to alcohol checks, driving and inspection records, and vehicle locking/unlocking. Driver’s licenses and vehicle registration information are centrally managed in the cloud, enhancing convenience and security for both users and administrators. The Digitalkey feature also reduces the risk of losing keys and allows for multiple users to share vehicles easily. Furthermore, Bqey provides pre- and post-drive alcohol testing as well as trip recording functions, which has helped increase awareness for safe driving and prevent drunk driving.
To further advance this initiative, we partnered with Global Mobility Service Inc. and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. to begin offering an alcohol interlock function for company cars starting January 20, 2025. This function prevents drunk driving by not allowing the vehicle’s engine to start if the driver has not performed an alcohol check or if alcohol is detected in their breath. While alcohol testing and record-keeping became mandatory for some white-number plate operators starting April 2022, the existing system has a flaw: even if alcohol is detected, drivers can still physically start their vehicle based on their own judgment.
To address this, we’ve integrated alcohol testing with vehicle start control to implement a system where the engine won’t start if you drink.
This will not only eliminate drunk driving but also help strengthen corporate compliance, ensure employee safety, and reduce and avoid risks.
Moving forward, we will continue to aim for a society where people can live safely and securely by preventing traffic accidents through the widespread adoption of Bqey and the alcohol interlock function.
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Unmanned Car Rental System “Uqey”
In November 2022, we announced “Uqey,” an unmanned car rental system utilizing digital keys, and launched the service in January 2023, with Okinawa as the first location.
As a matching application connecting rental car operators and users, it provides functions such as vehicle search, reservation, driver’s license verification (identity verification), issuance of rental passes, unlocking with digital keys, and payment.
Users can complete everything from reservation to return and payment with their smartphone, eliminating the need for in-person check-in and enabling 24-hour pickup and return (excluding some stations). In addition, stations becoming unmanned will help rental car operators overcome human resource constraints and expand their business.
As of October 2025, we have partnered with 27 rental car companies and offer Uqey services at 293 stations across 15 prefectures nationwide, primarily in Hokkaido, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.
With approximately 30,000 members and over 10,000 total bookings, we will continue to offer Uqey to many customers and rental car operators while improving the system based on their feedback to make it more user-friendly and convenient.
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Support system for preventing people from being left behind in vehicles
Commercialized in an extremely short lead time after a tragic accident
In September 2022, a tragic accident occurred in which a kindergartener was left behind on the school bus. Faced with this news, and with the belief that such a sad accident should never happen again, all our relevant divisions worked together to develop countermeasures. We made a presentation to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, introduced our product to Toyota and Nissan, and worked closely with outside parties to successfully commercialize the product at an unprecedented speed, with sales beginning as early as March 2023. By having developed products based on mass-produced products, we were able to develop them in a short period of time and ensure in-vehicle quality. Additionally, the device can be started and stopped using only the vehicle’s ignition signal, making it easy to install in existing vehicles. Furthermore, the in-vehicle alarm with audio guidance makes it easy to operate even for first-time users.
Upcycling brand “Think Scrap”
In 2020, Tokai Rika solicited ideas for a new business venture from all employees and received over 1,900 proposals. While narrowing these down to 10 themes, we noticed that many had wanted to make use of seatbelt scraps and contribute to the SDGs. In the manufacturing process for automotive seatbelts, a significant amount of scrap material is generated daily. Think Scrap was born from the desire to ‘give new value to this high-quality material that would otherwise be discarded.’
However, while seatbelt material is very strong, because they also require specialized sewing techniques, making these products completely in-house was a challenge. A major breakthrough came when we connected with a sewing factory that shared our vision and was willing to handle the complex processing. Furthermore, we entertained the possibility of using materials other than seatbelt, and considered whether other industries might face similar challenges. By reaching out to many companies, we gained access to diverse scrap materials.
Today, alongside our original products, we are also proactively developing new products with companies and students to create new value from scrap materials and contribute to the SDGs.
