The Unicla story and legacy of Tetsuo Nobata

The mobile air conditioning and refrigeration empire of Unicla is, in reality, the story of one great man, MrTetsuo Nobata.

Mr Nobata had the vision, grasped the opportunities, created business empires of many ‘firsts' and, when he died,he had planted enough seeds of inspiration so that his important technical legacies could live on anew.

Every industry has its pioneers, and Tetsuo Nobata was one of the originals for the mobile air conditioning and refrigeration industry. He played his part in changing the industry forever.

Born in Gifu Prefecture, Mr Nobata grew up in times when most rural Japanese communities were unaware of western world development. His family were hard workers and after completing middle school he joined the Japanese Navy Air Force and trained as a navy pilot.

Following the war, he was employed by Toyota in the parts and service area and during this time he visited agents throughout central Japan on motorcycle.

In the late ‘50s, he started a small motor repair and accessory shop at Mizuho-ku, on the main north road from Nagoya towards the small military and commercial airport at Komaki.

Mr Nobata saw the Harley Davidsons of the military and being a ‘petrol head' and lover of speed and power, he became one of the first Harley agents in Japan.

He became an importer of Chrysler motorcars and his fledgling business began to thrive.

Mr Nobata began to travel in the 60s to Europe and he started to import Kangol electronic advertising signs, then Webasto seatbelts from the UK. He began to import Mini Minors from the UK.

Then he heard about car interiors being cooled in summer in the USA. This led him to Texas USA, a state that was to play a huge part in his life.

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