Japan's Hino Motors eyes truck plant in Colombia
Afp, Tokyo
Japan's largest truck maker Hino Motors Ltd. is considering building a factory in Colombia in an effort to expand sales in South America, a spokesman said Friday. "We are considering construction of an assembly (plant) to manufacture trucks in Colombia," Hino spokesman Hidenobu Tezuka said. "This is part of our strategy to widen our market share in South America," Tezuka said, adding that the company hopes to finalise the plan "as soon as possible." The Nikkei business daily reported earlier that Hino will team up with Japanese trading house Mitsui and Co. Ltd. and local firms to build a joint venture factory in Colombia that will begin operating in 2008. The plant will have an initial capacity to assemble 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles a year which will eventually increase to 15,000, the financial daily said. Engines, platforms and other core components will be shipped from Japan for assembly at the Colombian plant.
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