1956 ushered in the production of the first Tohatsu Outboards (1.5 hp). Since then, Tohatsu outboards have served a variety of marketplaces: commercial fishing, military, marine transport, surf life saving, recreation and competition racing. They are the second largest producer of outboards in the world.

 

As well as marketing outboards under its own brand, Tohatsu outboards are rebadged and sold as other brands. In 1988 Tohatsu and Brunswick Corporation set up a joint venture named Tohatsu Marine Corporation to produce outboards for Mercury Marine. Some Mercury outboards with less than 60 HP are rebranded Tohatsus.

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In 2011, Tohatsu and Evinrude Outboard Motors made a deal to make smaller engines ranging from 15 HP and down with Evinrude decals.

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All outboard engines sold in North America by the now-defunct Nissan Marine were rebadged Tohatsus.

Tohatsu four stroke outboard engines above 50 HP sold in North America after 2013 are rebadged Honda, though at some point after that Tohatsu introduced their own 60 HP model which is an up-rated variant of their 40/50 HP engine. As of at least 2022 all outboards up to 60 HP are designed and built by Tohatsu.