Hino announces production in Malaysia

Hino Motors of Japan has set up a joint venture with Malaysian company MBM Resources Berhad (MBMR) to build a truck manufacturing plant in that country. The new plant will supply the Malaysian domestic market as well as further strengthening Hino’s business base in Asia as an export hub.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2013, with production start-up at the beginning of 2014. The plant will have an initial production capacity of 10 000 units a year.

As Hino’s local partner in Malaysia, MBMR holds a 42 percent share in Hino’s sales subsidiary, Hino Motors (Malaysia). Hino will hold a 58 percent share in the new manufacturing plant with the remainder held by MBMR.

The joint venture is in line with Hino’s strategy of expanding its manufacturing capacity and extending its global footprint, and increasing sales by 73 percent between 2011 and 2015.

Malaysia is Hino’s third largest market in Asia after Indonesia and Thailand. In 2011 Malaysia ranked third among Hino’s global markets with 6 034 units sold. Hino SA was ranked ninth with sales of 3 103 units.