Hino Motors of Japan has launched its range of trucks and tippers in the Indian market. In September 2008, the Japanese giant established a joint venture in India with Marubeni Corporation for selling Hino vehicles in the local market. Known as Hino Motors Sales India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSIN), with Hino Motors holding 65 per cent of the equity and Marubeni the balance 35 per cent, the company has made an initial investment of Rs. 20 crores.
Hino as a company is not new to India. Mr. Masakazu Ichikawa, Executive Vice-President and member of the Board of Hino Motors, said: “More than a decade ago Hino made its entry into India by providing its world renowned technology for manufacturing diesel engines to Ashok Leyland. I was personally involved and responsible for this project. I do believe that this technical transfer made a significant contribution to the Indian transport sector by ushering in fuel-efficient, environment-friendly and performance-oriented Hino Engine technology”.
He added: “We now begin a new phase of Hino in the rapidly expanding Indian commercial vehicle segment. We now bring to India globally acclaimed Hino commercial vehicles comprising a most modern range of trucks, tippers and buses which will once again contribute to bringing to the Indian transport sector the same levels of safety, performance and emission standards experienced in the developed economies. India assumes to be an important and strategic place in Hino Motors’ Global Policy. We look forward to continuing our contribution to India in a much more significant manner”.
Hino has currently launched the 500 series FM range for 6X4 tippers and the FL range for 6X2 haulage application. Presently the cabin and chassis are being imported from Thailand and assembled at its small facility at Bhiwandi in Thane district. Trucks are being imported in semi-knocked-down condition and assembled at this facility. Significant value addition by way of application bodies such as tippers, trucks, containerised vans, refrigerated trucks and buses are being done in India through identified body makers.
“Our initial activities in India include bringing cabin and chassis from Hino’s most modern plant in Thailand to India, making rear application bodies in India, fitment of items required in Indian law and delivering the vehicles to our customers through Hino dealers. Hino dealers are appointed at all strategic location in the country, and this network is continuously being expanded. All Hino dealers will have the contemporary service facilities, equipments and mobile service facilities which will offer total aftersales, parts and service support of global standard to Hino customers”, said Mr. Hiroshima Nakumara, Managing Director & CEO, Hindo Motors Sales India Private Ltd.
Hino Japan has appointed a Focused India Team in its organization. This team has started various feasibility studies. It will begin the work of making a blueprint for the India Project within the next few months. The Exact Time Target will be announced thereafter.
Mr. Nakumara said: “Initially, we have launched our 6×4 and 6×2 platforms in your market. These vehicle platforms come with the most modern engine, transmission and drive lines specially designed and manufactured to deliver best and long lasting performance. Applications like tippers and concrete mixers on our FM 6X4 vehicles and refrigerated trucks, container trucks and tankers, etc., on our FL 6X2 vehicles will deliver to our customers most efficient and environment-friendly performance”.
The company is also planning to launch a super luxury bus built in India on Hino’s top-of-the-line RM 1 E chassis platform.
Mr. Amol J. Sandil, Executive Vice President, Hino Motors Sales India Private Ltd., observed: “Though the global slowdown has affected the Indian CV market also, we consider India as a strategically important market for Hino. Though the volumes have shown deep correction in the past six months, we feel that the overall CV scene shows robust growth potential. However, we are planning to sell 700 vehicles by retail in FY 2009”.
HMSIN has established its sales and service outlets in Mumbai and Bhiwandi respectively. A central facility of parts warehouse, service and training centre, and Pan India Motor Pool is already in place. In phase 1, dealers have been appointed in the South and North, and in phase 2 dealers will be appointed in the West and East. The company is planning to have 10 dealers with 3S formalities by the end of 2009.
Mr. Sandil added: “We are carefully studying the service needs of our customers now and in future. We, in true Hino practice, will provide service and parts in the shortest possible time through 3S, 2S, 1S and Mobile Service Support. For tippers and other localized applications Hino dealers will offer at-site service facilities.”
