TOKYO (CHATNEWSTV) — Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corp. have finalized a historic agreement to merge Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors, bundling the Japanese truckmakers into a single powerhouse aimed at reshaping Asia’s commercial vehicle sector and accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation.
The companies said Tuesday the definitive agreements pave the way for a new holding company — jointly owned by Daimler and Toyota — to be launched by April 2026 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The combined company will be headquartered in Tokyo and led by Mitsubishi Fuso CEO Karl Deppen.
“Today is a great day for all our stakeholders,” Deppen said. “We are shaping the industry by bundling our strengths. With a strong new company we combine our two trusted brands, our resources, competencies and expertise to even better support our customers in their transportation needs in the future.”
Under the deal, Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino will operate under the new umbrella on equal terms, cooperating across development, procurement and production. Daimler and Toyota each plan to hold 25% of the new entity, which will own 100% of both Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino.
The companies emphasized the partnership’s potential to drive innovation in so-called CASE technologies — Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric — and to help decarbonize the commercial vehicle industry in Asia and globally.
“The integration of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors is truly historic,” said Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström. “Together, they have great potential to leverage scale — and scale is key to win in the technological transformation of our industry.”
Toyota CEO Koji Sato framed the deal as a starting point.
“Today’s final agreement is not the goal but the starting line,” he said. “Our four companies… will continue to create the future of commercial vehicles together.”
Satoshi Ogiso, CEO of Hino, described the partnership as a rare moment in industrial cooperation.
“Cooperation among these four companies is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ogiso said. “We are confident with building a strong and resilient team… contributing to society.”
The companies said further details, including the name of the holding company, will be announced in the coming months, pending board, shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Commercial vehicles, often described as part of “social infrastructure,” play a crucial role in moving people and goods across Japan and the region. The firms say the merger will strengthen Japan’s industrial base while supporting global goals for carbon neutrality and logistics efficiency.
