Hino Australia has launched a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty on all its genuine parts from 1 October 2008. Hino claims the offer is unmatched by any Japanese truck brand in the market.

The ongoing parts warranty applies to all Genuine Hino Parts fitted by an Authorised Hino Dealer and applies to both parts and labour. The three-year unlimited kilometre warranty also applies to all Genuine Hino Accessories fitted by authorised dealers.

Hino’s parts and accessories warranties had previously been 12 months or 100,000 kilometres, whichever came first. From 1 October the previous one-year/100, 000 kilometre warranty offer covers all Genuine Hino Parts and Accessories fitted by non-authorised dealers. This applies to Hino Parts and Accessories purchased over the counter.

“We’ve increased our genuine parts and accessories warranty period by 200 per cent and left the kilometres uncapped during this time,” said Hino Divisional Manager, Product Support, Greg Bleasel. “As far as we’re aware, no other truck brand – and certainly no Japanese brand – has a better offer.

“Transport operators are always looking for an edge. We expect our customers will find the warranties particularly compelling due to the high annual kilometres intrinsically required of their vehicles.”

Both warranties are offered nationwide and cover Hino’s entire range of light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, and Hino’s 200-plus accessory lines.

“The offer is unequivocal – there’s no fine print,” said Bleasel. “Unlike some of our competitors, which have different warranty kilometre caps for different vehicle models, our offer is standard across the board.”

Hino has made its Easy Start technology standard equipment on all its manual transmission 300 Series light duty models (including Hybrid), and on all two-wheel drive manual transmission 500 Series medium-duty trucks. Easy Start is designed to automatically prevent the truck from rolling backwards when starting off on steep inclines, uphill and downhill.

With Easy Start active, a driver can rest both feet off the foot pedals and the truck remains held in position. This eliminates any accidental movement such as roll-back. Easy Start automatically releases the brake as the clutch is engaged for take-off. It operates on forward and reverse gears. Drivers can customise the automatic brake release timing to suit their driving habits by selecting a fast or slow release speed via a dash-mounted toggle switch.

“Hill starts in traffic and at steep intersections are stressful on the driver and the driveline,” said Hino COO Steve Lotter. “Easy Start lessens the physical and mental demands placed on a driver, as well as clutch wear and driveline shock. Driver comfort is increased and fatigue is decreased. These considerations are particularly important in today’s occupational health and safety-conscious climate.

“Operating costs are lowered because Easy Start reduces stress on the truck’s driveline. It reduces wear and tear, especially on the clutch, and drivetrain shock loading at the take-off point. This promotes longevity and lowers maintenance costs.”

Hino has begun a campaign which they say could result in up to $250,000 of fuel being given to owners in the next five weeks. The company says cost of operation has become the single most important operational consideration of people who drive trucks for a living or who use trucks as a tool of trade.

“People are very concerned about the cost of fuel,” Hino Australia chief operating officer Steve Lotter said. “Concern is across the board, amongst owner operators, people who use trucks in their businesses, and also within fleets.”

Hino expect to give away $1000 of diesel on selected models it sells through its national dealer network up to September 30.

The promotion applies to its Built to Go light duty Hino 616 Trade Ace and 716 Steel Ace models, and to its medium duty FD 1024 cab chassis models in medium, long and extra long wheel base versions.

“For many operators the $1000 will buy between one and two months of fuel for daily operation – and in some cases even more,” Lotter said.

Australia’s leading off-road racing team is claiming a rough-terrain mileage record for its race vehicle transporter. Peter Kittle Racing has clocked up more than 120,000 kilometres across Australia in its Hino Ranger Pro, more than 50 per cent of it on bush tracks and corrugated gravel.

Team manager and truck driver Rob Richardson said the Ranger Pro acts as both a mobile workshop and a transporter for the team’s Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Jimco buggy in the Australian Off Road Championship (AORC), a national off-road endurance race.

Peter Kittle Motorsports Offroad Racing currently leads the AORC with its TRD Jimco buggy that produces up to 600kW (800bhp) and has a top speed on dirt of more than 250km/h.

He said people were often surprised to see the team’s Hino bounding along a dirt road in the middle of the outback.

“We take it through a lot of back roads and it has been in some places that I don’t think it was designed to go.”

The Ranger Pro’s custom-designed pan carries, in addition to the Jimco buggy, tools, lubricants, generators, suspension components and spares of all kinds, everything the team needs to be completely self-sufficient, often for days at a time.

The Hino Ranger Pro also tows a trailer carrying spare engines and the buggy’s monster 35-inch tyres.

The final 2008 AORC events are the Pines Enduro in September and October’s Goondiwindi 400. As current Championship leader, Peter Kittle Racing is well-placed to win the overall event. The team recently won this year’s Finke Desert Race – arguably the toughest event in Australian off-road motorsport.

Hino wereshowcasing a number of new models at the 2008 Sydney Truck Show , including the new Hino 714 Hybrid having its first public airing at the event.

“The new trucks on display at the Sydney Truck Show demonstrate Hino’s sensitivities to changing market needs with the launch of a number of new models in our medium and heavy-duty ranges, and the release of our second hybrid truck,” said Steve Lotter, Hino Australia chief operating officer.

Hino say the all-new 714 Hybrid reinforces their ongoing commitment to sustainable transport solutions following its launch of the first-ever hybrid truck in Australia in March last year.

“The 714 Hybrid is being launched at a time when fuel prices have never been higher, which is placing considerable cost pressures on operators across Australia, and around the world.”

A medium-duty FC 500 Hino Hybrid currently being evaluated by Hino Australia was also on display at the show.

“As a member of the Toyota Group of Companies, which is investing vast sums in hybrid technology, Hino is pioneering a driveline solution that will become vitally important to the future of the road transport industry.”

New Hino 714 Hybrid is said to be significantly more powerful, more efficient, cleaner and easier to drive than its predecessor.

Its peak electric motor power is up by more than 50 per cent to 36kW, and maximum electric motor torque has increased to 350Nm.

Hino will take its number of medium-duty 500 range variants to 52 with the launch of six new FM 500 models.

The Hino FM 2632, featuring an all-new 235kW ADR 80/02-compliant diesel engine, was on display alongside the 221kW Hino FM 2630 Auto fitted with a six-speed Allison automatic transmission.

The Sydney Show also featured two all-new additions to strengthen its 700 line-up, the SS 2848 and SS 2848 HR (High Roof). Both models are powered by a 353kW common-rail, turbo-charged diesel engine producing 2157Nm of torque.

The latest press release from the organisers of the Sydney Truck Show this August says demand from exhibitors has continued unabated. The statement says with addition of VW & Hyundai Commercial Vehicles the show now sees 85% of space occupied.

The success of the recent Melbourne Truck Show and the strength of Brisbane’s Show on the alternate years has put pressure on the Sydney Show to justify its claimed position as a credible national show and not a small regional affair.

“Sydney is a unique event in as much as we are the only expo that fully caters for both truck and light commercial interests.” said sales manager Phil Nennstiel. “Some freeing up of additional space has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us as our exhibitor list at this stage is shaping up very well indeed.”

The statement says the 2008 Sydney Truck Show will find over 200 exhibitors displaying hundreds of new trucks at the biggest indoor venue alongside a range of related road transport equipment, technology and products.

“Sydney’s Olympic Park precinct continues to evolve and mature as the logical venue for this type of event.” said UD Trucks general manager John Bushell. “Our expectation is that Sydney will prove a watershed event in terms of industry support for competing truck shows up and down the East Coast.”

News from exhibitors sees Hino planning to launch its new Hybrid model with a marathon 24 hour drive program pre-show.

Vanderfield Hino has won Hino’s Rural Dealer of the Year award which was announced at a ceremony in Canberra. It is the second time in the last five years that Vanderfield Hino has been successful in claiming Hino’s top dealer award.

The dealership has been a mainstay of the Hino franchise, having represented the company for the last 14 years. Dealer principal Bruce Vandersee says that while his company doesn’t aim to win awards, such a title is comforting recognition of its efforts.

“I certainly didn’t expect to win the award,” Vandersee said, “but I was really thrilled to win it – it was a very pleasant surprise. Our main focus as a business is to make sure we operate efficiently and ensure that our customers are happy.”

Vanderfield is not only a truck dealership – it also sells farm machinery. Until recently, the drought has ensured a tough time for that side of the business.

“We were really fortunate in 2007 that our Hino division was brilliant, which helped us out because the drought really affected the tractor side. In the past we have been heavily focused on the agricultural equipment, but each year Hino gets stronger, and each year Hino becomes an even bigger part of our business,” said Vandersee.

“Vanderfield Hino is very serious about our trucks – and we are even more serious about making sure our customers receive the best possible customer service. For example, we have a couple of aircraft that we use to service our western customers and make sure that they are well looked after.”

Vandersee believes Hino’s push to become number one in the Australian truck market will only help his dealership to achieve greater success.

“Hino has made a conscious effort to put in place the necessary people and procedures to help the company grow very quickly. We support that wholeheartedly – Hino has always been a really well-respected brand and we have always had strong product, and now everyone within the Hino network needs to take that extra step,” said Vandersee.

Dandenong’s Prestige Hino has been crowned Hino’s Dealer of the Year for 2007 for metropolitan dealerships. At a ceremony for all Hino dealers in Canberra, Prestige Hino was recognised as Hino’s best metropolitan dealership in only its first year of operation.

The award came as Hino recorded its best-ever sales year in Australia. Dealer principal Sam Nixon said he was thrilled to win the award in his dealership’s first year.

“I am both humbled and honoured to win this award so soon into the life of Prestige Hino,” he said. “Obviously it is everyone’s goal to be the best, but to be recognised like this after one year is amazing. We have a fantastic team at Prestige, combining both truck industry experience and professionals from outside the industry.

“This award belongs to them and rewards their determination to make the business the best it can possibly be across areas such as attention to customers, sales, service, parts and accessories. We were number one in our preferred market area (PMA) in 2007 – and beating a rival dealership that has held that title for some 20 years was a huge effort.”

Nixon believes Hino is an increasingly strong brand, a view supported by the Equipment Research Group (ERG) which named Hino the fastest-growing truck brand in Australia for the last two years.

“Hino has really become a franchise of choice in recent years – it is a growing brand with lofty ambitions. Being part of such an ambitious organisation is hugely motivating for us. Hino has been offering quality product for a very long time – but now it is working to ensure that it fills the gaps in the marketplace.

“Hino now covers far more of the marketplace than ever before – which makes it easier for the dealerships,” said Nixon

The Prestige Hino dealership was opened in Dandenong in February 2007 and has been hailed by Hino Japan as a benchmark for Hino dealerships across the world.