The business now known as Johnson & Perrott Motor Group was founded in 1810 by Joseph Smith to manufacture horse drawn carriages and traps. Robert William Edden took it over in 1818. In 1830 he rebuilt and modernized the entire factory.

In 1852 the National Exhibition was held in Cork, the following is an extract about the Carriage Department of the exhibition written by the then major of the city John Francis Maguire MP;

"As to the beauty, elegance, and finish of the Irish carriage, it is quite unnecessary to speak " the visitors of our National Exhibition have pronounced an unanimous opinion on the head. As one of the many results of the National Exhibition, I mention the fact, that Mr Edden, who exhibited the greatest number of carriages and to whom our local fashionables are indebted for the invention of the " four-wheeled car " , has sold two-thirds of the number to strangers who visited the carriage department that some of them have been purchased for Scotland, and more for the west indies".

In 1860 the business was acquired by Mr James Johnson, from whom all the current shareholders are descended. They employed between 60 and 90 people in 1866. In 1892 Stratten & Stratten published a book describing leading mercantile houses and commercial enterprises in Ireland. The following is an extract from their description of James Johnson, Nelson Place, Carriage Manufactory, Cork.

"J.Johnson’s Nelson Place Carriage Manufactory is as well-known establishment as any in the city of Cork. The present proprietor, Mr. J. Johnson, has owned and superintended the factory for a period of over thirty years. The premises are very extensive, covering an area of 200 feet by 90 feet , and they are three stories high, presenting a fine external appearance, and are unrivalled in the South of Ireland. The factory in its internal arrangements is certainly one of the best we have ever visited at home or abroad. They have been laid out with masterly care for the purpose of carriage building; at the same time not forgetting the comfort of his employees, as each department is well lit and ventilated. It would hard to surpass the manner in which the various departments are arranged and organised, and the sage advice about having a place for everything and everything in it’s place was never more thoroughly observed. The very organisation of the establishment clearly proves Mr. Johnson to be a born industrial leader. The showrooms – the most interesting department of a first class carriage factory – are especially attractive. At the entrance from Nelson Place is a very large showroom, and on the first floor upstairs are two other, all roomy ands well lighted and admirably adapted for the effective display of the numerous and splendid vehicles at all times on exhibition.The stock consists of landaus, broughams, Victorias, ladies’ phaetons, waggonettes, Stanhopes, dog carts, side cars, and, in short, every variety of vehicles in use of modern times, all of which are made on the premises and under Mr.Johnsons personal superintendence. We could not but remark the chaste and graceful outlines combined with beauty of form and lightness, yet strength in construction, and display in every detail of execution, and perfection to finish. The superior skill and talent employed in this establishment are worthy of our highest commendation.