Milestones prior to establishment

1910

Tokyo Gas Industry Co., Ltd. was established.

1913

Corporate name was changed to Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

1918

Mass production of motor vehicles began in Japan.

1937

The Automobile Division of Tokyo Gas and Electric Industry Co., Ltd., Automobile Industry Co., Ltd. and Kyodo Kokusan K.K. were merged into Tokyo Automobile Industry Co., Ltd.

1941

Corporate name was changed to Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd.

Milestones after establishment

1942

Hino plant was separated from Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd. and renamed Hino Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. to produce military track-laying vehicles.

1946

Production of heavy-duty tractor and trailer cargo and coach and diesel engine began, in response to a shift in demand from the private sector.
Corporate name was changed to Hino Industry Co., Ltd.

1948

The Sales Department was separated and re-established as Hino Diesel Sales Co., Ltd. Corporate Name was changed to Hino Diesel Industry Co., Ltd.

1949

Hino was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1950

Production of heavy-duty diesel truck and bus began.
Japan' s first ever trolley bus was introduced.

1953

Technical collaboration with Renault (France) resulted in the production of the Renault, a passenger vehicle.
Hino-Renault Sales Co., Ltd. established.
Japan' s first under-floor engine bus was introduced.

1959

Hino Diesel Sales Co., Ltd. merged with Hino-Renault Sales Co., Ltd., and was renamed Hino Motor Sales, Ltd.
Hino Diesel Industry Co., Ltd. was renamed Hino Motors, Ltd.

1961

"HINO CONTESSA 900", a passenger vehicle, was introduced.

1963

Operations commenced at Hamura plant in Tokyo.

1964

"HINO RANGER KM", Japan' s first 3.5-ton medium-duty truck, was introduced.

1966

Hino Motors, Ltd. and Hino Motor Sales, Ltd. created a business alliance with Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd. (the latter two merged on July 1, 1982 to form Toyota Motor Corporation.)

1968

Small vehicle factory was completed in the Hamura plant for the production of the TOYOTA HILUX.

1971

Mizuho Delivery Center was established.
Hino received the Deming Award.

1974

Establishment of Parts depot, Hino Motors (Europe) N.V. in Belgium, started in Antwerp on April 26.

1977

Japan's first body-framed touring coach was introduced.

1978

The building in Mechelen, where Hino Motors (Europe) N.V. is located today, was officialy opened April 28.

1980

Operations commenced at Nitta plant in Gunma.
The redesigned "KAZE-NO-RANGER SERIES" medium-duty truck was launched.

1981

Iruma Delivery Center was established.
The redesigned "SUPER DOLPHIN SERIES" heavy-duty truck was launched.

1985

Operations commenced at Gozenyama Proving Grounds in Ibaraki.

1986

Iruma Dispatch Center was relocated. Hidaka Delivery Center was established.

1988

Domestic sales of "RANGER series" reached 500,000 units.

1990

The redesigned "S'ELEGA" touring couch was launched.

1991

The world's first diesel-electric hybrid system "Hybrid Inverter-controlled Motor & Retarder (HIMR)" powered bus was announced.
Hino participated for the first time in the truck category at the Paris-Dakar Rally.

1992

The redesigned "SUPER DOLPHIN PROFIA SERIES" heavy-duty truck was launched.

1994

New symbol mark and logotype were adopted, symbolizing "Hino Motors' Vision for the 21st Century". Hino' s corporate identity was promoted.
The letter H stands for Hino. The emblem expresses Hino’s dynamism and potential for innovation and growth as it pursues new challenges moving forward. It also depicts a sun rising above the horizon. The inward curves pulling against each other represent harmony between Hino’s advanced technologies and the environment, and the company’s aspirations for robust future development. The horizontal bulges depict arrows pointing in two directions that embody the company’s longstanding desire as a manufacturer of trucks and buses to ensure that vehicles enjoy safe passage to and from their destinations.

1995

The redesigned "LIESSE SERIES" light-duty bus was launched.

1996

Hino Motors 21st Century Center was established (training facilities and Auto Plaza).

1999

Hamura plant obtained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems.
New "DUTRO" light-duty truck was introduced, jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corporation.
Hino Motors, Ltd. and Hino Motor Sales, Ltd. merged into Hino Motors, Ltd.

2000

Nitta plant obtained ISO 14001 certification.

2001

Head office and Hino plant obtained ISO 14001 certification.
Hino became a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation through private pacement.

2002

Cooperative agreement reached between Hino and Scania, a Swedish heavy-duty truck and bus manufacturer.
The light duty hybrid truck was launched, conforming to new stricter regulations on exhaust emissions, effective as of 2005.

2003

Hino attained top position in domestic heavy and medium duty truck sales for the 30th consecutive year (FY2002). *

2004

Low emission high-mileage HINO RANGER Hybrid was introduced.

2005

Non-step large-sized hybrid route-bus HINO BLUE RIBBON CITY Hybrid was introduced.
"HINO RANGER" medium-duty truck was launched, to meet new long-term emission regulation.
The redesigned "HINO S'ELEGA" was launched, to meet new long-term emission regulation.
"HINO PROFIA" heavy-duty truck was launched, to meet new long-term emission regulation.

2006

Hino Motors Sales Canada, Ltd. began assembling trucks and changed its name to Hino Motors Canada, Ltd.
Cumulative commissioned production of Toyota-brand vehicles reached 10 million units.
Australia’s first light-duty hybrid truck was introduced.

2007

Annual overseas unit sales exceeded domestic unit sales for the first time.
Guangqi Hino Motors Co., Ltd. was established in China.
Cumulative exports reached one million units.

2008

Hino Motors Manufacturing Colombia, S.A. began assembling trucks.
Hino Motors Sales, LLC was established in Russia.
Hino Motors Sales India Private Ltd. was established in India.
Low emission high-mileage HINO S'ELEGA Hybrid was launched.

2009

PT. Hino Motors Manufacturing Indonesia began the additional production of light-duty trucks (HINO 300 Series and TOYOTA Dyna) in Indonesia.
Hino Motors Manufacturing Mexico, S.A. DE C.V. began assembling trucks.
The cumulative number of driving seminar participants at the Customer Technical Center exceeded 20,000
A joint venture company, GAC Hino Motors Co., Ltd. began assembling trucks in China.
The cumulative production of Hino trucks and buses reached three million units.

2010

Toyota and Hino provided fuel-cell bus for Tokyo airport routes.
Hong Kong's first light-duty hybrid truck was introduced.
Hybrid transit bus with FTD-and-biodiesel fuel mix was examined.
Hino Motors Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd. began assembling engines.
Hino Sales Support, ltd. was established to optimize sales network in Japan.