62 10-4 Magazine / June 2025 Hino Motors are the largest truck manufacturer in Japan and are part of the huge Toyota Motor Corporation. The company can be traced back to 1910, with its formation being in the natural gas service industry and related equipment manufacture. The first lightweight truck was introduced in 1917, but this was just a “sideline” to the main business. After mergers, the company became part of Automotive Industry Co. Ltd., and by 1941 became Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd. A year later, in 1942, the company, which is headquartered in the city of Hino in Tokyo, Japan, changed its name to Hino Heavy Industry. At that time, Hino, like all the big manufacturers, focused on the WW-II conflict and built a large number of heavy duty vehicles for the Japanese military, including the 4x2 TH model. When the war ended, the company became known as Hino Diesel Industry Ltd. and began focusing on manufacturing commercial buses, trolleys, trucks, trailers and diesel engines. Hino continued to build the TH series, which also included the TA and HD model options. The TH was a general purpose chassis for a host of applications, the TA was aimed at the dump truck market, and the HD was a tractor unit. All the models were fitted with the DS50 six-cylinder diesel engine, a 5-speed gearbox, and an electric/air operated 2-speed rear axle. Shrewdly, the company introduced the weight rating at 14,000 lbs. gross, when most of the Japanese competition were building 12,000 lbs. chassis. The TH series showed its longevity by being updated and manufactured until the latter part of the 1960s. The ZC 6x6 and the 4x2 half cab, along with the ZG 13, which were tough, purpose built off-highway dump trucks, were introduced by Hino in the early 1950s. Later, COE models were also introduced, like the 4x2 KC 300 and the twin steer TC 30 6x2, which both had the same all steel cab, and could also be tilted. In 1959, the company was once again renamed Hino Motors, and then in 1966, they merged with Toyota Motors. Since then, Hino has concentrated on manufacturing heavy duty trucks. The late 1960s saw the introduction of the ZM and the modern HH models. The ZM was a conventional style truck which had a big following in Japan, and the HH was an up to the minute COE with a tilt cab. Hino has always been the epitome of a rugged truck, with solid chassis frame fabrication and all steel, welded, constructed cabs – and both models were no exception. Both were configured as a 6x4, and the ZM was Special Feature: By Norman Chapman fitted with the direct injection ED100, an inline six-cylinder diesel engine, rated at 235-hp. This engine was coupled to a 5-speed, two stage air/electric, switch operated gearbox, giving ten ratios. The final drive axle was a basic double reduction type with differential locks as an option. The HH model had a choice of two engines – the ED100 and the EF100 – which was a V8, rated at 270-hp, and the transmission was the same as the ZM. The modern cab was set high, clear of the engine, and could be easily tilted by one man, giving excellent access for maintenance and repair to the motor. There were also other variants in the range, like the HE, a 4x2, and the WG model, which was a 6x6. There is also an Irish connection to Hino. The Republic of Ireland and UK connection with Hino began as a dream of Robert Harris (1942-2017), who is remembered as a pioneer, that ultimately changed the face of the entire commercial THE HISTORY OF HINO #1 #2 #3
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