A motorcycle racing driver Jaroslav Simandl became founder of the company having transferred his tools workshop from the borderland to Divišov in 1948. By request of his co-drivers he raced with in 1949 in England at the six day motorcycle race he began to manufacture in his workshop spare parts for JAP engine. A great demand for these parts made Jaroslav Simandl to build the complete JAP engine. The first engine of its proper own design was manufactured in 1950, it was a short stroke S 45 later named ESO. The engines soon began to be mounted into frames of own production therethrough a manufacturing of complete motorcycles ESO was began. Motorcycles for motocross and road track races were also manufactured in Divišov in parallel with speedway motorcycles.

In 1963, the Divišov plant was incorporated into concern JAWA Týnec nad Sázavou. The motorcycles were then manufactured under the mark JAWA. The machines from Divišov pushed its way all over the world thanks to its modern conception. The greatest fame of this mark was brought in the late sixties and the early seventies by drivers Briggs, Mauger and Olsen.

After November 1989 the company separated from the concern JAWA Týnec nad Sázavou and became an independent joint stock company. The company was privatized in 1994.

JAWA Divišov, a. s. as one of the few survived and set forward importantly the technological development in world's speedway sport and became the most successful mark in 75 year's speedway history.

To the present day JAWA keeps on developing and manufacturing the successful motorcycles and engines for speedway, long track, grass track and ice racing. More than 90 % of its production is sold through dealer network into 24 countries of five continents.