Novi-based Hino Trucks has plans to produce medium- and heavy-duty trucks with Cummins engines for sale in North America, the company announced at last week’s virtual 2021 NTEA Work Truck Show.
Hino intends to offer Cummins B6.7 and L9 engines in Hino’s L and XL Series models by the end of 2021. Cummins is based in Indiana.
Hino plans to redirect engineering and other resources to accelerate the development of the battery electric vehicle portion of Project Z, the company’s development path to zero emission vehicles.
The company had previously announced plans to develop and produce a full range of battery electric trucks by 2024. It is now planning to begin low volume production of the battery electric vehicle models in the fourth quarter of 2022, ramping up to full production by the end of 2023.
“Our industry is in the midst of a generational shift from traditional vehicles to Zero Emission Vehicles,” says Glenn Ellis, senior vice president of customer experience at Hino. “This new partnership is in line with the recent shift we have seen among other OEMs who are looking to strong industry partners to help offset their growing R&D investments into new ZEVs.”
Hino will begin production of Cummins powered trucks at the West Virginia and the Woodstock plant in October 2021, using engines built by Cummins at their Rocky Mountain Engine Plant in North Carolina. The company plans to make the Cummins B6.7 engine available in the L Series by the end of 2021, initially offering the engine in two ratings: 240 horsepower and 260 horsepower.
The B6.7 will be paired with Allison’s 2000 and 3000 Series transmissions. Starting in 2022, the Cummins L9 engine will be available in Hino’s XL Series model, initially in three ratings: 300 horsepower, 330 horsepower, and 360 horsepower. The L9 can be paired with Allison’s 3000 or 3500 Series transmission or an Eaton manual.
The companies say they will evaluate additional opportunities to collaborate on powertrain strategies in the future.
Hino is a Toyota Group company. It manufactures, sells, and services a lineup of Class 4-8 commercial trucks in the U.S. It has more than 240 dealers nationwide.
Cummins designs, manufactures, distributes, and services a portfolio of power solutions including diesel, natural gas, hybrid, electric, and other alternative solutions. It was established in 1919 and serves customers in more than 190 countries and territories around the world.
