The president and CEO of the Daimler/Toyota truck joint venture Archion: Karl Deppen, as this week announced the launch of a new medium-duty truck range for the Japanese market, the first under the umbrella of the joint venture organisation.
Archion said that the new medium duty range which will be cold under either the Hino Ranger or Fuso Fighter nameplates promise to provide stronger product choices for Japanese customers in the medium duty segment.
We presume longer term that the trucks will come to Australia and be offered to local buyers as the product pipeline starts to flow.
Urchin say that the new vehicles represent the first milestone in its Integrated Platform Strategy, which it says is a key pillar of the new Group’s growth strategy.
The company said that the Integrated Platform Strategy is at the very core of its growth agenda, and is aimed at maximising integration synergies between Hino and Fuso, strengthening product competitiveness, and serving a broader range of customer needs.
Archion declared that as part of this strategy, the companies will standardise core vehicle platforms, including powertrains, chassis, cabs, and electronic architectures, as well as optimising component specifications, leverage economies of scale, and enhance overall product competitiveness.
The company said that in the near term it will utilise existing platforms between Hino and Fuso and that This approach will allow both brands to respond more quickly and effectively to customer needs that would have been difficult to address independently.
Archion said that in the medium to long term it will advance the development of integrated platforms that leverage ‘integration synergies’ that it says will combine the strengths of Hino and Fuso and foster a collaborative development approach with the extensive supplier networks of both companies.
It also said that in addition it would leverage its strategic partnerships with Daimler Truck and Toyota, pointing out that both possess industry leading technological expertise.
The company said that it aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the group as a whole through the adoption of advanced technologies and the realisation of greater economies of scale.
It said it aims to adopt highly competitive systems and components, optimise product specifications, manufacturing structures, and production processes, and enhance profitability while offering a broad range of solutions tailored to diverse customer requirements through using a team-based development approach.
The company said that the newly announced medium-duty truck range represented a near term initiative under its Integrated Platform Strategy, through which Hino will supply its existing platform to Fuso.
It said that this will enable it to further strengthen its product portfolio, respond more rapidly to market demand, and improve business efficiency across the Group.
Following the medium-duty truck program Fuso will also supply its existing electric light-duty truck platform to Hino, with production scheduled to begin within the current fiscal year.
Looking further ahead the company said it will develop a next-generation integrated platform that leverages the technological capabilities of all companies.
It further said that Archion Group through these efforts will aim to deliver ‘high-quality products’ at cost-competitive prices that create long-term value for customers sustainably.
“While the Archion Group advances the integration and standardisation of its product platforms, the Fuso and Hino brands, have earned the trust and support of customers over many years, and remain valuable assets of the Group, and we are committed to preserving and further strengthening both brands, ” said CEO Deppen
