Hino Signs MoU With MARA To Develop Local Automotive Industry

Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore strategies that will enhance the development of entrepreneurship, education, and investment in the local automotive industry.

This intended cooperation between HINO and MARA comes as both parties agree to leverage on their existing relationship in the commercial vehicles sector. “MARA has been our loyal customer since the establishment of HINO in Malaysia in 1977. This customer relationship has given multiple business adjacencies between HINO and MARA, particularly in the development of the automotive field and the improvement of bus network services,” said HINO Managing Director, Atsushi Uchiyama. “In HINO, good business is good customer relationships. We are delighted to collaborate in unlocking the opportunities and potential for the automotive industry in Malaysia, especially in rural areas”.

HINO is also taking deliberate steps to build a resilient portfolio in supporting the development of a local vendor network and implementing strategic investment activities among industry players. Furthermore, the company is steadfast in empowering the local community through initiatives that focus on education and community development.

This strategic partnership between HINO and MARA also aims to develop a skilled workforce programme, especially in the field of commercial vehicle MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operation). Under the development of educational properties, besides providing training and teaching factory for MARA graduates, HINO will also conduct research and development (R&D) collaborations to enhance the growth of the local automotive industry, and to encourage sharing of knowledge and technology between the parties.

This collaboration also includes efforts to establish HINO Approved Service Centres or HASOs in several locations that have been identified.

MARA Chairman, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah commented, “This collaboration will not only benefit MARA and HINO, but it will help to enliven further the involvement of Bumiputera in the automotive industry, especially MRO, and at the same time help create more skilled manpower in the near future”.

The MoU was signed by Atsushi Uchiyama and MARA Director-General, Dato’ Azhar Abdul Manaf. It was witnessed by Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Azizah and HINO Director, Ahmad Yasmin Yahya.

The collaboration for a period of 3 years is also welcomed by both parties to support entrepreneurship and human capital development programmes under the scope of the company’s expertise, especially in the field of commercial vehicles.