Hino Considering Exporting Trucks Produced in Indonesia

(News Today) - Commercial-vehicle manufacturers are racing to develop low-priced trucks for Asia and other emerging markets to counter anemic domestic sales, the Nikkei reported in its Wednesday morning edition.

Isuzu Motors Ltd. (7202.TO) will start selling small trucks in Asia that are 20% cheaper than existing models as early as this year. The new vehicles, patterned after its Elf light-duty line of trucks, will use Chinese parts.

The company will test drive 60 prototypes in Asia and the Middle East from March. The results will be used to improve and prepare the trucks for commercial launch. In two years, they will be available in more than 10 countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. is developing a midsize truck that will be 20% cheaper than the Fuso brand, hoping to roll it out in India as early as 2012.

The new trucks will be assembled at a plant being built by parent Daimler AG in the southern city of Chennai. The vehicle's body frame will be comparable to that of a midsize truck, while the cab and engine will be closer to that of a light-duty truck.

UD Trucks Corp. will develop an emerging-nation model based on its Quon heavy-duty truck. Tapping Swedish parent AB Volvo's parts procurement network, it will sell the new offering for 20% less than existing models. In addition to China, the truck will be produced in India and Thailand. UD Truck anticipates a rollout in two to three years, with plans to gradually expand availability from production bases to neighboring nations.

Hino Motors Ltd. (7205.TO) is considering exporting the light-duty trucks it produces in Indonesia to neighboring countries. The trucks have a larger load capacity than comparable models, but are stripped of air conditioners and other frills. About 70% of the vehicle's parts are locally procured.

In 2009, domestic sales of trucks with load capacities of at least 4 tons plunged 46.4% to less than 40,000 units. Even though sales were stronger last year, the domestic market is not projected to grow in the long run. Nikkei

Source : kompas

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