Rowe

Plaintiff Pauline Rowe, as guardian ad litem for Timothy Rowe, appeals from a superior court order quashing service of summons on defendant Yamaha Motor Company, Ltd., Japan (hereafter Yamaha Japan).

The action’s complaint disclosed that the plaintiff minor, Timothy Rowe, suffered personal injuries and damages caused by a collision between an automobile and a Yamaha motorcycle operated by him. Among the action’s several defendants was joined Yamaha Japan, the motorcycle’s manufacturer, on the theory of strict liability in tort. Service of summons was effected upon that defendant, among others.

Upon such service Yamaha Japan moved to quash service of summons “on the ground that the court lacks jurisdiction over Yamaha [Japan], in that no basis for jurisdiction exists between it and the State of California.”

The motion to quash was granted, and this appeal followed.

We state the relevant and legally admissible evidence presented to the superior court on the motion.

Yamaha Japan is a Japanese corporation which itself does no business in the State of California. It manufactures motorcycles in Japan which it sells in Japan to Yamaha International Corporation, also known…