Traton SE, Germany, known as the Traton Group, is a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group and one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers with its MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus brands. Traton and Hino Motors, Ltd., Japan, have signed a joint venture agreement for e-mobility in order to plan and provide e-mobility products that will be based on the two companies’ strategic partnership to offer customers the highest value. Traton and Hino will combine their unique strengths to consequently develop electric vehicles including battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell vehicles (FCV), and relevant components as well as creating common EV platforms including software and interfaces. They will form a team of advanced specialists from both companies and launch activities in Södertälje (Sweden) and in a second step in Tokyo (Japan). Traton and Hino will team up to shorten lead times for future e-mobility products with battery and fuel cell technology. The two companies are convinced that both technologies will be needed in the future.
Yoshio Shimo, President & CEO of Hino Motors, Ltd., said: “I am delighted that we can follow our procurement joint venture and further embodying our synergy with Traton in e-mobility, helping to reduce global CO2 emissions and fighting global warming. We will combine our strengths as leading commercial vehicle manufacturers to offer EVs with the highest value for customers, through joint planning of commercial EVs.”
Matthias Gründler, CEO at Traton Group, said: “Traton’s mission is to carefully balance the interests of People, Planet and Performance. This new joint venture with our strong partner Hino is the next important step in electrification, pushing our mission further ahead.” Gründler reiterated Traton Group’s goal to invest 1 billion EUR until 2025 in electrification.
Back in 2018, Hino and Traton signed an agreement, aiming for a mutually beneficial strategic long-term partnership. Based on their shared principle of offering customers the highest value possible, they established a procurement joint venture in 2019, and have now solidified their collaboration in e-mobility. Both companies have agreed to explore each other’s capabilities and investigate further possibilities to collaborate in other future fields of technology.