Kawasaki Rail Car Holds Major Milestone Event Celebrating 5,000th Railcar In U.S. Market

Kawasaki Rail Car in Yonkers celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday with the rollout of its 5,000^th railcar in the United States market.

A U.S. subsidiary of the Japan-based railcar manufacturing company Kawasaki Heavy Industries, company officials hosted a party for elected officials and representatives of one of its highest-profile customers, the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

“We are honored to be New York’s partner in progress to meet the growing demand for Kawasaki’s rolling stock,” said Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing Co., Ltd. President and Chief Executive Officer, Hiroshi Murao. “We constantly push the boundaries of what is possible, delivering safety, reliability and comfort levels that consistently surpass our customers’ expectations. At our Yonkers facility, we create railcars, but we also generate long-term value to drive savings in maintenance and operations for the State.”

Kawasaki has delivered over $12 billion in railcars since its entry into the market in 1979.

“Kawasaki has been an integral part of New York’s economy for decades, driving innovation and providing significant opportunities throughout the State,” said New York State Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “Their deep investment back into our economy, by contracting with local businesses has helped strengthen local industries and New York’s economy. Today, as we celebrate the remarkable milestone of 5,000 railcars, we also recognize the skilled workers whose expertise has been crucial to this success. Kawasaki continues to set a high standard in manufacturing and innovation, and I look forward to their continued partnership in advancing New York’s economic future.”

Kawasaki has delivered most of its railcars to authorities in the New York area—3,783 of its total output of 5,000. The Metropolitan Transit Authority bought more than half of the total output.

“Over the past four decades Kawasaki has been a reliable partner to the MTA, manufacturing thousands of reliable cars for our customers,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “The company has been integral to the decades-long turnaround of the subway system and the 2025-29 Capital Plan recently adopted by the MTA Board calls for even greater investment in new subway and commuter rail cars.”

Over four decades in Yonkers, Kawasaki created thousands of jobs.

“Kawasaki has played an integral role in supporting a thriving downtown waterfront by providing thousands of good-paying jobs and supporting small businesses in the surrounding area,” said Yonkers Mayor, Mike Spano. “I am so pleased to have Kawasaki as part of the City’s fabric for decades to come.”

The Yonkers facility has awarded an estimated 30% of its contracts to companies located in New York State, and nearly 10% to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

“Westchester County is proud to have Kawasaki as a key partner in driving our local economy by creating well-paying jobs for our residents and fueling economic growth,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. I hope Kawasaki continues to call Westchester home for many years to come, long after my time here, and that they remain at the forefront of innovation, producing cutting-edge train cars that provide not only comfort and style but also the highest standards of safety.”