Hino opens first manufacturing plant in Malaysia

The RM140million facility known as Hino Motors Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is located on a 170,000 square-metre site and is a joint venture with long-time partner in Malaysia, MBM Resources Bhd. It has the capacity to build approximately 10,000 units a year and will produce the full range of Hino products including light, medium and heavy duty trucks and buses for the Malaysian market. It is also Hino's third largest in Southeast Asia after Thailand and Indonesia.

Hino Motors Ltd president, Mr Yasuhiko Ichihashi, said, at the opening of the plant, “Malaysia is a very important market for HINO. Excluding Japan, it is now the third largest in the world after Indonesia and Thailand. This manufacturing plant is a strategic investment that will equip Hino with sufficient supply, and the readiness and flexibility to meet the growing demand in this country”.

According to Hino Motors Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director, Mr Ikuo Shibano, Sendayan was chosen as the site due to favourable geological factors, proximity to KLIA and nearby sea ports, and strong support from the Negeri Sembilan State Government.

“The Sendayan plant certainly reflects the importance of the Malaysian market as the third pillar of Hino’s operations in Southeast Asia. It will create about 300 jobs and feature world-class manufacturing processes with a special emphasis on safety,” he said.

HINO is the first commercial vehicle brand to offer an automatic transmission and crew cabin option for its six-wheel LCV; Euro 3 engines for its award-winning HINO 300 Series LCV and Euro 2 for HINO 500 Series MCV respectively; and Euro 3 engines for its HINO 700 Series heavy commercial vehicles (HCV). The company was also the first to equip its HINO SH Series prime movers with a driver’s airbag as a safety feature.

For more information on HINO products in Malaysia, please visit www.hino.com.my.