Report: Hino Motors to sell Dutro truck in North America
TOKYO (Aug. 4, 1999) — Hino Motors Ltd. plans to begin selling its Dutro truck in North America as early as 2001 to help offset slow sales in Japan, according to a Nikkei English News report.
The class-3/4 truck was introduced in Japan in May. Hino developed the vehicle with Toyota Motor Corp.; the two companies have had a marketing and production relationship since the early 1960s.
The Dutro has its conceptual beginnings in a Toyota model called the Dyna.
In North America, Hino focuses on selling medium-duty vehicles. “I’ve heard nothing about an exact date for an introduction here,” said Alan Masters, national marketing manager with Hino Diesel Trucks (Canada) Ltd. “But this is a very good product, and I would not be surprised to see it here soon. It would be exceptionally strong competing for lighter-duty business.”
Hino, the largest Japanese builder of trucks, exports about 3000 vehicles a year to the U.S. and Canada.
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