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| Photo: www.marathonrally.com |
THE first thing you learn when you ask a Hino dealer about sales
from the new R55 million assembly line at Prospecton is, actually, its not
pronounced “hi-no” but “hee-no”.
Getting the correct Japanese pronunciation is just one of the
constant little improvements at the company, but whichever way you pronounce it,
Hino remains one of South Africa’s most-trusted names among entrepreneurs.
And this does not just apply to the never-say-die little Dyna
trucks dating back to the seventies. Since Hino opened its new line in May, 65
staff members have been building a range of trucks from the little Dany to the
Hino 700 truck tractor.
The assembly line at Prospecton is one of only 19 in the world and
follows record local sales of Hino trucks last year, which was, at 3 461 units,
the ninth best in the world outside Japan. These good sales are despite the fact
that Hino dealers in SA compete with very good products from Europe, the United
States, China, India and Korea.
If a Namibian likes it
The Hino 300 truck
occupies the middle of the range, between the small Dyna and big 700. Namib
Mills this month signed for 18 new 300s to transport tons of pasta, flour and
animal feed throughout Namibia. The group also ordered six refrigerated units.
As any fleet manager can testify, if a Namibian thinks a truck will last on
their long dirt roads, any other country can have a look.
Here to stay
While Ford recently
announced it has troubles motivating further investments in South Africa due to
damage from prolonged strike action, the Hino name is too deeply entrenched to
entertain such doubts.
CEO at Toyota SA Dr Johan van Zyl said at the opening of the Hino
assembly line it was one of several investments totalling nearly R1 billion made
by Toyota in SA. Other recent lines in Prospecton include factories for the new
Siyaya and locally-designed Corolla Quest. Meanwhile, Hino dealers are also investing in new equipment and
building. Non-executive Sindi Mabaso-Koyana said some of the dealers have
been with the group since 1972 and she invited anyone who does not know why it’s
“hee-no” and not “hi-no” to visit and discover why the trucks continue
delivering.
