Japanese truck maker Hino Motors has opened two service centres in Yangon and Mandalay.
Takahiko Taniyama, managing director of Summit SPA Motors Limited, said that most of the Hino vehicles in Myanmar are old and require maintenance, so mechanical maintenance will be provided initially followed by cosmetic maintenance.
Hino is currently working to import their products directly to Myanmar.
Transport minister U Aung Khin said, “Hino vehicles are widely used in Myanmar in military, trade and transportation sectors. The locals may acquire technical knowledge and employment opportunities because the service centres will provide service in accordance with Japanese standards. Furthermore, it is more beneficial for us as the spare parts can be available locally.”
The service centres will use Japanese technology and local employees will be sent to Japan to improve their competence and technical skills, Takahiko said. Japanese technicians will also come to Myanmar and provide trainings three times a year, he added.
In addition to Yangon and Mandalay, services will be provided to rural and remote locations, the company said. The workforce currently consists of 27 people in Yangon and 10 in Mandalay.
The site in Yangon covers around 12,000 square metres, making it one of the largest service centres for commercial vehicles in the country. It is a 60-40 joint venture between Japanese trading house Sumitomo and local conglomerate Surge Pun and Associates (SPA). Several hundred million yen will be invested in the site, according to Japanese media reports.
Myanmar started importing Hino vehicles, mainly container trucks and buses, back in 1954. Together with the government, manufacturing facilities were set up in Htonebo town in Bago region and Yangon in 1965, and manufacturing continued until 1989. The company sold over 20,000 vehicles over the last 30 years.
