Africa to augment Hino’s global growth

Africa has massive potential, as its markets are growing at a rapid rate. It’s no wonder then that the continent (and particularly South Africa) is important to Hino in its quest for increased global growth in its truck sales.

This situation was explained by the chairman of the board of Hino Motors Limited, Masakazu Ichikawa. He was visiting South Africa to attend the opening of Hino SA’s new manufacturing plant, in Durban (one of 19 Hino facilities outside Japan, with the manufacturer’s home country housing four).

“The majority of Hino’s sales are made in Japan and Southeast Asia, but we recognise the importance of African markets as they are showing rapid growth and have high potential,” Ichikawa emphasises. “The South African market is particularly challenging with major brands from Europe, the United States, Japan, China, India and Korea competing for a comparatively small number of sales.”

Despite this, Hino South Africa sold 3 461 units last year, placing it in ninth place among the countries outside Japan – with higher targets being set for the future. “I am confident that the new truck plant, which is an important milestone in terms of Hino’s business progress in this country, will be the base for further expansion of the brand in South Africa,” Ichikawa concludes.