Archion (Japanese: アーチオン, Hepburn: Āchion) is a holding company that was founded to assume full ownership of truck manufacturing companies Fuso and Hino in 2026, following their 2025 merger agreement.[1][2][3]

Archion was established in Japan on 2 June 2025, and became operational on 1 April 2026 to align with the Japanese fiscal year. Daimler Truck and Toyota, respectively the parent companies of Fuso and Hino, each own 25% of Archion.[1][2][3][4] The merger was delayed from 2024 because of concerns that Hino would be liable in the United States for fraudulently certifying its engines' air pollutant emissions.[5][6][Note 1] It also took longer than expected to receive regulatory approval in Japan and Southeast Asia, where both truckmakers have large market shares.[5]

Truck production will be consolidated into three Japanese factories (at Kawasaki in Kanagawa, Koga in Ibaraki, and Ōta in Gunma). Hino's factory at Hamura, Tokyo will become a Toyota factory, and Fuso's factory at Aikawa, Kanagawa will be subsumed into the facility at Kawasaki. Initially, the Fuso and Hino brands and corporate operations will remain distinct, and Archion will offer truck models from both brands. Archion's executive management roles were filled by a combination of former Fuso and Hino personnel, including a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer from Fuso, and a Chief Technology Officer from Hino.[1][2][3]

Additionally, Archion intends to pursue the development and increased commercialization of zero-emissions vehicles (including hydrogen-powered vehicles, which are politically important in Japan and closely associated with Toyota). Presently, both Hino and Fuso have battery-electric vehicle development programs, and Hino is developing fuel-cell drivetrains.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Hino ultimately pled guilty to criminal fraud, and was placed on probation and ordered to pay fines and penalties of about US$1.6 billion.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Werwitzke, Cora (2025-11-13), "Fuso and Hino to unite under new holding Archion", Electrive, translated by Westerheide, Carla, archived from the original on 2025-11-12
  2. ^ a b c "Updates on the Integration of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors" (PDF), Hino Motors (Press release), 2025-10-09, archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-02-10, retrieved 2026-02-14
  3. ^ a b c "Updates on the Integration of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors" (PDF), Fuso (Press release), 2025-10-09, archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-02-14, retrieved 2026-02-14
  4. ^ Fujo Hino merger forms Archion bus giant Australasian Bus & Coach 8 April 2026
  5. ^ a b Matsuoka, Daisuke (2025-04-22), "Hino, Mitsubishi nearing final agreement on merger talks", The Asahi Shimbun, archived from the original on 2025-04-22, retrieved 2026-02-14
  6. ^ Takamura, Masato; Narahashi, Daisuke (2025-04-23), "Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso Near Integration Deal after Resolution of Engine Emissions Scandal", The Japan News, archived from the original on 2025-04-23, retrieved 2026-02-14
  7. ^ Shepardson, David (2025-03-20), Toyota's Hino Motors pleads guilty to US emissions fraud, fined $1.6 billion, Reuters, archived from the original on 2025-03-23, retrieved 2026-02-14
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archion