Raidan Of Fruinia (ROF) Automotive

Raidan Of Fruinia Automotive, abbreviated to ROF, is a Fruinian automobile and motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1980. ROF is a division of the Hetvesian motorcycle manufacturer Raidan Corporation, but ROF's automotive wing acts independently. ROF began making military vehicles in 1984 and passenger vehicles in 1988. Today, ROF is best known for its compact and subcompact cars.

1980s
In 1980, Hetvesian motorcycle manufacturer Raidan expanded to Fruinia with their Raidan Of Fruinia (ROF) line. ROF made the same bikes as Raidan, but with a few new models and unique marketing. In 1983, ROF won a contract from the Fruinian military to develop a lightweight, manuverable, capable off-road vehicle for general use. The result, the 1984 ROF Brumby, was renowned for its simple construction and off-road prowess, and remains in service in several third world militaries to this day. The Brumby also gained a cult following among many Fruinian civillians, who bought military surplus models to use as off roaders and beach cars. ROF executives noticed this demand, and decided to release a civilian Brumby through their motorcycle dealerships in 1988. At the same time, a much more ambitious and larger-scale project was in the works- the ROF Xtena compact car, designed as a no-frills, entry-level car. Both the Brumby and the Xtena were released to sales success in 1988. Additionally, the Xtena XR Turbo Coupe gained recognition as one of the best budget performance cars on sale, and became a favorite of the tuner subculture.

1990s
With the Brumby and Xtena doing well, but not spectacularly, ROF grew slowly for the first part of the 1990s. The company's most ambitious project of the first half of the decade was to create a network of automobile dealerships independent from the existing motorcycle dealerships- this was accomplished in 1993. In 1991, ROF began exporting the Brumby and Xtena to Hetvesia and Gasmea, where they sold modestly at the bottom rung of the new-car ladder. As ROF built a reputation with its two models, company executives began to plan expansion. The Brumby II concept car appeared in 1994, promising a removable hard top, all wheel drive, and a completely waterproof interior on a compact SUV. While many of the features of the car were clearly impractical for production, the all wheel drive and boxy styling helped foreshadow the production Noricon SUV of 1996. In 1997, ROF released two completely new models- the Renner midsize sedan, and the Trekor minivan. The Renner in particular was a hit in overseas markets, and helped raise the company's profile outside of Fruinia. In 1998, the second-generation Xtena was released.

2000s
ROF collaborated with Kazar on several research projects battery electric technology in the early 2000s. No production car ever came of these efforts- however, ROF did secure permission to produce a licsense-built version of Kazar's wildly successful Micron subcompact. ROF's version, the Proto, was availible in 4 and 5 door form only, and was introduced in 2003. The same year, a second-generation Noricon premired. This model abandoned the ladder frame and solid rear axle of the first model for more carlike handling, but kept the boxy styling and all-wheel-drive. ROF continued with their 6-model lineup (Proto, Xtena, Renner, Brumby, Noricon, Trekor) for most of the rest of the decade. However, a new, third-generation Xtena arrived in 2007, and the second-generation Renner came in 2008. In 2008, the Trekor was briefly discontinued in preparation for an all-new model. ROF expanded into the Dallhuan market in mid-2009, selling only the Xtena, Renner, and Noricon in that market.

2010s
ROF premiered the second-generation Trekor in early 2010. It was more powerful, longer, and wider than its predecessor, as well as being much better equipped. The Trekor became one of the leading vehicles in its class immediately from launch. Later that year, on October 2, 2010, the last original Brumby was produced after well over a million units and 26 years. In 2011, ROF stopped producing the Proto, as market research indicated it was siphoning sales from the Xtena. Current CEO Haru Takahashi took command in 2014, as a trio of new models launched- the third-generation Noricon SUV, a larger, midsize SUV called the Phoenix, and a fullsize sedan called the Vesper, as well as hybrid versions of the Xtena, Renner, and Noricon. These models represented ROF's attempt to gain more credibility and brand image in global markets, especially in Gasmea. In 2015, ROF made its first ever dedicated sports car. The Blade packed agressive, sporty styling and a turbocharged version of the V6 from the Renner producing 310 horsepower in R-Sport trim, and was capable of 0-60 MPH in under six seconds. It wasn't able to match the sales popularity of segment leaders like the Inman Axe, but still sold enough to be profitable. The Blade was heralded by many critics as the best sportscar under $40,000 availible. Two more new models came in 2017. The first was a revival of the Brumby name- the ZC Brumby, a subcompact crossover to compete with the Grand Gorge Q and Consolidated K3. The ZC Brumby's carlike handling and decent utility made it successful, but it faced criticism from Brumby purists who felt the crossover was a desecration of the classic nameplate. ROF's second new car of 2017 was the E7 subcompact, notable for its complete commitment to electric power. It was one of the first all-electric models from a major manufacturer, and was the second best selling electric vehicle of 2018, behind the Etom E-Vision. In 2018, ROF released the Buena Dia light sports car, notable for being the least expensive performance vehicle on sale at launch. ROF is planning for complete electrification of its lineup by 2023.