Shiotsu Autotrade Japan – President’s Blog

Hino Trucks received the highest rankings in the conventional medium duty truck segment, in the 2010 Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.  Hino Trucks have ranked at the top for the third consecutive year in the medium duty truck category.

The J.D. Power and Associates award is considered as the ultimate recognition as it represents the customer’s voice of about their on-road experience they with various trucks.  The J.D. Power and Associates has been conducting this study for the last 18 years, with a purpose to provide auto makers with a objective and comprehensive measure of buyer satisfaction with products, parts, and dealer service in the Class 5, 6 and 7 commercial vehicle category.   Six factors are measured to determine universal truck engine satisfaction.  They are – engine warranty, engine quality, cost of operation, ride/handling/braking, cab and body, and engine and transmission performance.

Based on the 2009 year model, Hino Trucks received highest ratings for all the 6 factors used to decide the overall satisfaction.  The study was conducted in June to July, 2010 and was based on a survey done with 1,200 primary users of 2009 year model Class 5-7 conventional medium duty trucks
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According to the study, Hino truck engines continue to perform well in all areas, especially with reference to quality.  Hino engines also have very low cost of ownership because of their high fuel efficiency – this is also a favorable factor to the business owners who are trying to minimize their costs in this tight economy.  Overall, Hino Trucks engines tend to have less downtime and fewer engine problems, compared to the average engines available in this market.

This award received by Hino demonstrates the auto maker’s dedication to deliver the most cost effective, reliable and durable trucks possible to their customers.

Hino Trucks is making use of SCR Technology in their trucks to satisfy the EPA emissions requirement for 2010 study.  As a matter of fact, Hino happens to be the lone medium duty truck to satisfy the EPA emissions requirement for 2010.  Looking ahead, Hino Trucks has plans for new models and technologies that would meet and exceed customer demands as well as environmental needs.   Hino, recognized for its lead in the commercial hybrid truck technology, plans to introduce its proprietary next generation hybrid system in 2011, in a new class 4 and 5 truck particularly designed to satisfy the needs of the American market.

Mitsubishi Fuso launches Fully Remodeled Canter Light Truck

Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks – subsidiary of Daimler’s Asian and Bus Corporation – recently unveiled a new generation light-duty truck – Canter in Japan.  The new Fuso Canter is now available with regional dealers and affiliated sales centers of Fuso all over Japan.  Subsequent to the launch of the new Canter in Japan, Fuso will make this new truck available in worldwide export markets by next year.

This light-duty truck comes with number of technical changes and most of them aim at reducing emissions and fuel consumption.  According to Fuso, the newly launched Canter takes care of JP09 – Japan’s stringent long term emissions regulation implemented this year.  Actually, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions of this truck are thirty percent lower than required by the JP09 regulations.  This new Canter series has the lowest fuel consumption in its segment. The whole series also meets the Japanese standard of fuel efficiency for trucks, which will be effective from the year 2015.

Fuso Canter’s new model is fitted with efficient and light-weight 4P10 diesel engine.  This engine has low fuel consumption and it significantly reduces emissions of CO2, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.  It has been proved in practical demonstration that the powertrain optimization can increase fuel efficiency by 5 to 8 % when compared to earlier truck models.  The newly designed engine brake which comes as a standard in the new Canter, reduces the wear and tear of the brakes and further reduces the cost of maintenance by 20 % as the work required decreases.

The new model of Fuso Canter is the first business vehicle that comes with the Duonic dual-clutch transmission as a as standard fitting.  The Duonic dual-clutch transmission comes with automated driving advantage like manual transmission.  If compared with fully automated converter transmission, this transmission decreases consumption of fuel, and thus reduction in emission.

The exterior and interior design of Fuso Canter has also been completely changed, along with improvements in brake system, axle suspension system and frame design which makes the Canter safer and lighter than its previous models.

This is the eight generation of Canter which is the result of development process of nearly over four years.  Mitsubishi Fuso aims to sell around 25,000 units during the first year. And their next target is to account for 70% of global sales in terms of unit. The cost of 2-ton payload model of Canter is 4.18 million yen.

Technorati Tags: Fuso Trucks, Fuso Canter, Japan, JP09

Honda Civic gets the axe in Japan domestic market

Honda, third largest Japanese car maker by sales volume, has recently announced that they will not be selling their Civic sedan anymore in Japan.  Honda has taken this decision due to the decreasing demand for passenger sedans in the Japanese market.  However, Honda will continue selling its Civic sell around the world.   Honda will also launch an updated Civic model in 2011.

Honda is planning to discontinue Civic hybrid’s domestic production for Japan domestic market in December 2010.  Honda has already stopped Honda Civic gasoline engine version’s production for the domestic market in August 2010.  Honda Civic midsize sedan’s domestic sale will continue till the inventories last.  However, Honda will continue selling their Civic sedan in Europe, North America, and other overseas markets as it builds the Civic model at 13 different overseas factories.

Honda civic is a car known for its practicality and reliability at reasonable price.  This car is popular among professionals as well as college students as it is a practical and affordable car.  It is still very appealing to car buyers worldwide for its good reputation as a reliable car with high resale value.

More than 3 million Civic models have been sold in Japan domestic market since Honda  introduced the car in 1972.   Honda Civic was their first global strategic car.  Honda sold 177,000 civic sedans during the year 1975.  This was their largest annual sales volume accounting to about 71% of their overall domestic sales for that year.  But recently there has been a drop in demand, as buyers interest shifted to compact cars and minivans like the Honda fit.

Honda has a diverse product portfolio in Japan compared to that in the United States and European markets.  Honda Civic still does extremely well in the overseas markets.  However, the Civic sales were going downwards in Japan because of availability of smaller and more versatile models like Honda Fit, Freed and Stream.

Honda earlier had plans to keep the Honda Civic Hybrid and discontinue the gasoline model, but later decided to discontinue all Civic models in the domestic market due to general weak demand for sedans.  The company sold just 9,000 Civic models in the Japan in 2009, while the global sales of the model were around 609,000 units.

The Honda Civic continues to perform well in markets abroad as Honda’s mainstay sedan.  Honda Civic is one of the best selling sedans in the United States due to its reputation for quality, fuel economy and reliability.  As a matter of fact, Honda has sold over 215,000 Honda Civic in the U.S. this year by end of October; more than 17,000 Civic models were sold in October alone.

Honda Civic models will continue to live on in other markets even after getting the axe in Japan.  The next generation Honda Civic is expected to be launched in the United States by the next year.  Honda will continue the production of the Civic sedan for export in its Suzuka plant in Mie Prefecture, even after discontinuing its domestic production.

Technorati Tags: Japanese car, Honda, Honda Civic, Honda fit, Japan