by Amy Antenora , Editor
WILLIAMSTOWN, W. Va. — Perched on the banks of the Ohio River , Hino Motors Manufacturing USA’s new truck plant in Williamstown , W.Va. , celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 29.
Hino officials, plant employees and dignitaries gathered at the event, which was attended by nearly 300 guests. Among the business leaders and elected officials to make remarks were West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin; Ambassador Motoatsu Sakurai, consul general of Japan ; and Shoji Kondo, chairman of the board of Hino Motors Ltd. ( Japan ). Senator Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Alan D. Mollohan (WVA) were also scheduled to participate, but unexpectedly needed to be in Washington to participate in Senate consideration of economic recovery legislation. 
At right: Attendees check out Hino’s new snow plow truck.
While this was an exciting day for Hino Motors, it was even more meaningful for West Virginia and the Williamstown communities, as the plant brings much needed jobs and income to the community. Hino originally planned to invest $8 million in the facility, but that number was increased to a total of $18 million; and the number of jobs increased as well. Eighty employees were initially hired, and Hino now employs 105 team members at the Williamstown plant. Approximately 4,000 West Virginia residents applied for those initial 80 jobs.
“It’s very unusual to have a foreign manufacturer come here. Usually, our businesses are leaving for foreign soil,” said Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford. “We welcome you with open arms and are excited you are here.”
Plans for the plant were first announced in July 2007, and the commercial truck assembly was up and running in just four months. The plant began producing Class 4 to 7 commercial trucks in November 2007. Since then approximately 1,000 trucks have rolled off the assembly line in Williamstown. The plant expects to produce 5,000 trucks annually.
Hino’s products have been well-received in the U.S. market since the company began producing commercial trucks in the U.S. four years ago, according to Sumio Fukaya, president of Hino Motor Sales USA.
“Our market share is growing,” said Fukaya. “Good ‘QDR,’ which stands for ‘quality, durability, reliability’ is our product’s strong point.”
Pledging to increase sales of Hino products despite challenging economic conditions in the U.S. , Fukaya added, “Fuel economy becomes our weapon.”
Adding to the commentary regarding the tough economic conditions in the U.S. today, Hino Motors Chairman Shoji Kondo said he believes the U.S. economy is on the verge of an upswing. “Hino has been exposed to the harsh market conditions in the U.S. but we believe the market has hit bottom and will go up in the next year or so,” said Kondo.
During the formal grand opening ceremony, Hino officials also announced several significant contributions to the area community. Yasuo Tanigawa, president of Hino Motors Manufacturing, presented a diesel truck engine to Washington State Community College , and a "practice training truck" to the Wood County Technical Center . Tanigawa explained that the intent of these contributions is to provide valuable education and skills training to local students — a critical component of Hino’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
In addition to these donations, Chairman Kondo announced the establishment of a Hino college scholarship program. The scholarship will be awarded annually to four local high school seniors, in an amount up to $1,000 per year per student, for up to four academic years. The scholarship program will be administered by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.
At the close of the event, several of the dignitaries participated in a traditional ceremony called Kagami Biraki, which consists of breaking the top of a sake keg, to symbolize "an opening to harmony and good fortune."
