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Hino Australia hails Dakar triumph and 2019 sales headway

Milestones keep coming for the Japanese truckmaker here and abroad

 

Hino is celebrating an 11th straight Dakar rally in the under 10-litre class, adding to a week in which the Japanese maker also lauds a landmark year of sales in Australia.

Team director Teruhito Sugawara alongside Hirokazu Somemiya and Yuji Mochizuki piloted Truck 1, based on the Hino 500 series, to 10th place overall, beating larger rivals to the finish line.
 
Truck 2, based on the 600 Series sold in North America, did not finish due to early body-work damage.

Both vehicles use an enhanced version of the  A09C six-cylinder engine, the production version of which is available in the 500 Series Wide Cab trucks in Australia.
 
They also include full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) and a direct injection turbocharged and intercooled engine, which is matched to a six-speed manual transmission in Truck 1 and six-speed automatic transmission in Truck 2.
 
“Once again, it was stellar performance from Teruhito Sugawara and the “Little Monster” truck, not only capturing its 11th straight class win but finishing inside the top 10,” Hino Australia head of customer and brand Dimitri Andreatidis says.


Our review of the 500 Series Standard Cab, here


Closer to home, Hino Australia shrugged off tough market conditions to record sales gains in the 2019 calendar year – eclipsing many of its contemporaries, it says.

The maker increased its market share to 17.5 per cent, delivering a total of 5,547 trucks and buses nationwide.

Broken down into segments, its results read:

  • an overall market share of 22.7 per cent for light duty, up 1 per cent on 2018.
  • market share increase of 5 per cent to 31.6 per cent for medium duty, led by the new 500 Series Standard Cab
  • heavy duty sales and share remained in line with 2018.

The gains are in part attributable to the customer focused business strategy, Hino Advantage, now in its fifth year, according to Hino Motor Sales Australia general manager – brand and franchise development Bill Gillespie.

“Since the introduction of Hino Advantage, we have continued to outpace our competitors,” Gillespie says.

“Along with our market-leading products, our focus on programs and offerings to support our dealer network and establish long term ongoing relationships with our customers through our aftersales services has ensured that Hino has earned the reputation as a respected and reliable business partner.

“We know that, long after the truck has been handed over, customers want a partnership that continues to benefit and grow their business – Hino Advantage does just that.”

The maker also hails a range of facility upgrades and builds, increased brand awareness via sponsorship involvement – predominantly the Supercars Championship – and the continual roll-out of new initiatives in recruitment and training.

It spotlights upgrades and new facilities for its dealer network including in Mackay (Queensland); Taree, Wodonga and Wagga (New South Wales); Lonsdale (South Australia); Kalgoorlie, Newman, Onslow and Port Headland (Western Australia); and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

Hino Australia’s focus remains on meeting customer demands and needs, with expansion and investment in the dealer network set to continue in 2020.

“We are extremely proud of our progress and ability to adapt to the fast changing conditions of the market. With our strategic and innovative approach we are confident that our success will continue as we remain at the forefront of customer and product innovation,” Gillespie says.

 

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