Hino Motors facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hino Motors, Ltd.

Hino Motors headquarters in Hino, Japan
Native name	日野自動車株式会社
Romanized name	Hino Jidōsha Kabushiki-gaisha
Formerly	Hino Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. Hino Industry Co., Ltd Hino Diesel Industry Co. Ltd.
Type	Public (K.K)
Traded as	TYO: 7205
Industry	Automotive
Predecessor	Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded	1 May 1942; 83 years ago (1 May 1942)
Headquarters	Hino, Tokyo , Japan
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Satoshi Ogiso [jp] (President & CEO)
Products	Trucks and buses
Production output	175,096 vehicles (2022)
Revenue	¥1,507,336 million (FY2023)
Operating income	¥17,406 million (FY2023)
Net income	−¥117,664 million (FY2023)
Total assets	¥1,361,735 million (FY2023)
Total equity	¥433,409 million (FY2023)
Number of employees	34,231 (March 2023, consolidated)
Parent	Toyota
Footnotes / references Fiscal Year (FY) is 1 April of the prior year to 31 March of the named year. References:

Hino Motors, Ltd., often called Hino, is a Japanese company. It makes commercial vehicles like trucks and buses. Hino also builds diesel engines for these vehicles. The company's main office is in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. It started in 1942, splitting off from older companies.

Hino Motors is a big part of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is also a part of the Toyota Motor Corporation group.

History of Hino Motors

Early Beginnings

Hino's story began in 1910 with the Tokyo Gas Industry Company. This company made parts for gas lighting. Later, it changed its name to Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry (TG&E). In 1917, TG&E built its first vehicle. It was a truck called the Model TGE "A-Type."

In 1937, TG&E joined with other car companies. They formed Tokyo Automobile Industry Co., Ltd. This company later became Isuzu.

Hino's Start and Growth

In 1942, Hino Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. was created. It separated from Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd. During World War II, Hino made military vehicles. After the war, the company focused on trucks and buses. It dropped "Heavy" from its name. The company became Hino Industry Co., Ltd. Its name came from its location in Hino, Tokyo.

In 1948, Hino split into two parts. One part was Hino Diesel Industry Co., Ltd. In 1950, Hino introduced a large truck. It was called the TH10. This truck had a new 7-liter diesel engine. In 1952, Hino launched the B10/30 bus. It was the first Japanese bus with a forward control cabin.

Hino also made passenger cars. In 1953, it started building Renault cars under a special agreement. In 1961, Hino made its own car, the Hino Contessa. It also built a pickup truck called the Hino Briska. In 1959, the company officially became Hino Motors, Ltd.

In 1963, Hino opened its Hamura factory. Hino trucks were also put together in other countries. These included Norway, Portugal, and Canada.

Working with Toyota

In the 1960s, Hino faced money problems. In 1966, Hino and Toyota formed a partnership. Hino became a part of the Toyota group. Hino then focused on making trucks and buses. It also helped assemble vehicles for Toyota.

In 1967, Hino started putting together light vehicles for Toyota. The Hino Briska pickup truck was renamed the Toyota Briska. This model helped create the Toyota Hilux in 1968. Hino also assembled the Toyota Publica van and the Toyota HiAce. Hino stopped making its own passenger cars in 1969. But it continued to assemble light vehicles for Toyota.

In the 1960s, Hino launched new trucks. These included the TC300 and KF models. In 1964, the medium-duty KM series truck was launched. It was later called the Hino Ranger.

In the 1970s, Hino introduced "red" diesel engines. These engines were very good at saving fuel. Hino started to sell more trucks overseas. By the end of the 1970s, Hino sold more trucks abroad than in Japan. In 1977, Hino launched its first long-distance bus. In 1981, the company introduced the Hino Profia truck. This truck had better design and engines.

Hino also started working with other companies. In 1978, it partnered with Asia Motors. That same year, it worked with the Chinese company FAW. Hino helped FAW improve its medium trucks. In 1986, Hino began allowing Ashok Leyland to use its engine designs.

In the 1990s, Hino had financial difficulties again. The company launched new heavy trucks and buses. It also expanded its business in Asia. Toyota helped Hino by giving it more assembly jobs. In 1997, Toyota increased its ownership in Hino. By 2001, Toyota owned more than half of Hino. Hino officially became a subsidiary of Toyota.

In 2002, Hino and Isuzu combined their bus production in Japan. They created a joint company called J-Bus. Hino also partnered with Scania AB to sell Scania trucks in Japan. This partnership ended in 2011.

In 2012, Hino began moving its truck production. It moved from its old plant in Hino to a new one in Koga, Ibaraki. This move was finished in 2017. Now, Hino's main Japanese plants are Koga (for medium and heavy trucks), Nitta (for engines and transmissions), and Hamura (for lighter trucks and Toyota assembly).

In 2018, Hino and Volkswagen Truck and Bus (now Traton) announced a partnership. They planned to work together on things like buying parts and technology. This partnership ended by 2023.

In 2021, Hino, Toyota, and Isuzu formed a new partnership. Toyota bought a small part of Isuzu. The three companies created a new joint company. It is called Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation. Their goal is to develop fuel cell and electric light trucks. However, in 2022, Hino faced issues regarding past engine data. Because of this, Toyota and Isuzu decided to remove Hino from their partnership.

In 2023, Hino and Toyota announced a plan. They want to combine Hino and Mitsubishi Fuso. Mitsubishi Fuso is owned by Daimler Truck. The plan is to create a new company together.

Hino Around the World

Hino has operations in many countries.

Canada

Hino has sold trucks in Canada since the 1970s. Hino Motors Canada Ltd. is the main seller of Hino products there. In 2006, Hino opened a truck assembly plant in Woodstock, Ontario. It builds Class 6 and 7 trucks.

Colombia

Hino Motors Manufacturing Colombia (HMMC) is a partnership. It assembles medium and heavy trucks. These trucks are mainly for countries in South and Central America. The factory opened in 2007 in Cota, near Bogotá.

India

Hino and Ashok Leyland have worked together since 1986. They cooperate on engine production in India. In 2017, they made a new agreement. It was to build Hino's advanced diesel engines in India.

Indonesia

PT. Hino Motors Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI) is a key production base for Southeast Asia. It assembles medium and heavy-duty trucks. The factory opened in 2003 in Purwakarta, West Java.

Ireland

Hino trucks have been assembled in The Republic of Ireland since 1968.

Israel

Hino Motors signed an agreement in 1963. It allowed Kaiser-Illin Industries in Haifa, Israel, to assemble Hino cars. They built the Contessa 900, Briska, and Contessa 1300. Israel was Hino's second biggest market for Contessas. After Toyota bought Hino, the agreement ended in 1968.

Mexico

In 2008, Hino Motors started building a new truck assembly plant in Guanajuato, Mexico. It opened in 2009. The plant can produce 1,200 Hino 500 series trucks each year.

Pakistan

Hinopak Motors was formed in 1985. Hino Motors and Toyota Tsusho Corporation later became the main owners. Hinopak Motors makes and sells diesel trucks and buses in Pakistan. It is the largest manufacturer in this industry in Pakistan.

Philippines

Hino entered the Philippine market in 1975. It created Pilipinas Hino, Inc. This company originally made buses and later trucks. In 2015, Pilipinas Hino, Inc. changed its name to Toyota Motor Philippines.

Russia

In 2017, Hino Motors announced its first factory in Russia. The factory began making trucks in 2019. It can produce 3,000 trucks yearly.

Thailand

Thai Hino Industry Co., Ltd. was set up in 1964. It has assembly plants in Thailand. The company makes different types of Hino trucks. These include light-duty trucks for small businesses and heavy-duty trucks for international transport.

United States

Hino has been in the United States since 1984. Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. assembles medium-duty trucks. Its plant is in Williamstown, West Virginia. They also have a second plant in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. These plants make parts for Toyota trucks too.

Hino also works with SEA Electric. They plan to offer Hino electric trucks in the United States in 2024.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, Hino Motors Vietnam Joint Venture Company is a truck maker. It was started in 1996. It is a joint effort between Hino Motors of Japan, Vietnam Automobile Industry Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation.

Hino's Factories in Japan

Koga plant, pictured in December 2018

Hino has four main factories in Japan. They are in Hino, Hamura, Nitta, and Koga.

The Hino plant is the oldest. It used to make trucks and engines. But its work was moved to the Nitta and Koga plants by 2017. Hino plans to close the Hino plant by 2025.

The Koga plant started working fully in 2017. It makes parts, axles, and frames. It also assembles medium and heavy trucks.

The Nitta plant opened in 1980. It makes axles, engines, and transmissions. Since 2016, it has been making large engines.

The Hamura plant began operations in 1963. It makes axles and light trucks. It also assembles light vehicles for Toyota.

Hino also has test facilities in Japan. These are in Ibaraki, Osaka and Memuro, Hokkaido. The company has warehouses and a museum too.

What Hino Makes

Trucks

Hino makes many types of trucks.

• Hino TH-series: A heavy-duty truck made from 1950 to 1968.
• Ford N Series trucks: These were Hino Ranger models sold as Fords in Oceania.
• Profia: A heavy-duty truck, also known as Hino 700 for export.
• Hino 600: A medium truck for North America.
• Dutro: A light truck, also sold as Hino 300, Toyota Dyna, and Toyota Toyoace. Hybrid versions are available.
• Ranger: A medium to heavy truck, also known as Hino 500. The latest version is the 4th generation Ranger Pro.
• Hino 155 Class 4: A light-duty truck.
• XL: Class 7/8 heavy trucks for the US and Canada.

Trucks for USA and Canada

Hino also sells special trucks in the USA and Canada. These are conventional trucks, meaning they have a hood in front of the driver. They are called Hino 600 series.

• 238 Class 6: medium duty truck
• 258 Class 6: medium duty truck
• 268 Class 6: medium duty truck
• 338 Class 7: heavy duty truck
• 358 Class 7: heavy duty truck

• 

  Hino 165 Hybrid

• 

  Hino 338 T dashboard

• 

  Hino 338 three-axle hook truck

Buses

Hino makes many types of buses for different uses.

• Poncho: A light bus with no steps.
• Liesse & Liesse II: Light buses. The Liesse II is a Toyota Coaster with a Hino badge.
• Blue Ribbon & Blue Ribbon II: City buses. The Blue Ribbon II is an Isuzu Erga with a Hino badge.
• Rainbow & Rainbow II: Medium buses. The Rainbow II is an Isuzu Erga Mio with a Hino badge.
• Melpha: A medium bus.
• S'elega: A luxury bus.
• Different chassis types for light, big, mid-engine, and rear-engine buses.
• Front-engine Type C school bus chassis (Hino 338): Used for Starcraft Guardian school buses.

Cars

Hino Contessa 1300 coupe

Hino has made a few cars in its history.

• Hino Renault 4CV: Built under a special agreement.
• Contessa: A passenger car made in the 1960s.
• Toyota FJ Cruiser: An SUV built for Toyota from 2006 to 2022.

Aircraft

Before Hino became Hino Motors, its earlier company, Tokyo Gas & Electrical Industry Co. Ltd. (Gasuden), made several aircraft in the 1930s.

• Gasuden KR-1 Small Passenger Transport
• Gasuden KR-2 Small Passenger Transport
• Gasuden Model 1 Trainer
• Gasuden Model 2 Trainer
• Gasuden Model 3 Trainer
• Gasuden Koken Long-range Research aircraft
• Gasuden TR-1 Medium Passenger Transport
• Gasuden TR-2 Medium Passenger Transport

Motorsport

Hino has a history in racing. "Team Samurai" raced a Contessa car in the Trans Am Series in 1966.

Hino has also competed in the Dakar Rally since 1991. They use a Ranger FT 4WD truck. Hino trucks have always finished in the top 10 in the truck category. In 1997, they even took the top three spots!

Concept Vehicles

The Hino Flatformer uses a flat platform chassis co-developed with REE Automotive. It is shown with a body for package delivery.

Hino and REE Automotive created a cool concept vehicle called the Flatformer. It was shown in 2019. This vehicle has a flat base that can change its top part. For example, it can be a delivery vehicle, a mobile shop, or a passenger shuttle. It is also designed to drive itself.

Images for kids

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  Hino truck with its selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system