Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) said today in Japan that it is expelling Hino Motors “in light of Hino’s misconduct concerning certification testing.”
In a move that appears to be an attempt to isolate Hino’s owner Toyota from ongoing legal and other liabilities in the emissions data fraud scandal that now goes back as far as 2003, Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation “suggested that the misconduct committed by Hino is incompatible with CJPT’s * aspirations and goals and that the continued inclusion of Hino in activities will not gain the understanding of its customers and the public.”
The Toyota statement also said today that “with this suggestion taken into consideration, the decision was made after discussion within CJPT.” (AutoInformed on: Toyota: More Today Trouble Over Hino Motors Emission Fraud; Toyota Motor FY Q1 Profit Drop Spooks Market; Japan Inc: Toyota and Hino to Pioneer Light-Duty Fuel Cell Electric Trucks with Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson; Automated, Connected and Electric Vehicles – ACE)
Since it was founded in April 2021 by Toyota, Hino and Isuzu Motors, CJPT – Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies was to enable technology development for commercial vehicles by considering initiatives at logistics sites to contribute to achieving a carbon neutral society and reduce the burden on drivers and workers by accelerating the use of autonomous vehicles and systems.
At that time CJPT said: “In order to promote the widespread use of electrified vehicles, consignors, logistics businesses, infrastructure providers, automakers, and other related partners must come together to address sustainability by taking a practical approach. As a result of repeated discussions with many people in various industries, it was decided to begin social implementation projects in Fukushima and Tokyo.”
Now, Hino will be excluded from all agreements, including the joint-planning agreement, and Hino’s equity stake (10%) in CJPT will be transferred to Toyota. In the projects that CJPT is currently working on, such as the previously announced social implementation in Fukushima and Tokyo, Hino will play a minimal role to not cause inconvenience to CJPT’s customers.
“As the parent company and a shareholder of Hino, we are extremely disappointed with the company’s misconduct in relation to the certification testing, which has greatly undermined the trust of our customers and all other stakeholders,” Akio Toyoda said.
“Hino has committed misconduct in engine certification for a long period of time, and the company is in a situation where it is not to be recognized as one of the 5.5 million individuals in the Japanese automotive industry. CJPT is a project to build the future together, based on Japan’s CASE technology. As of now, we believe that Hino’s participation will cause inconvenience to stakeholders, and we have decided that it is appropriate to expel Hino from CJPT. This conclusion was reached after discussions with the companies involved. We will continue to work with our partners on the project to solve the issues facing the transportation industry and contribute to achieving a carbon neutral society,” Toyoda said.
*CJPT
Social Implementation Overview
- Period/Location
- January 2023 to the end of FY 2029 (planned)
- Fukushima Prefecture, Tokyo, Tohoku-Kanto-Kansai (main line transportation)
Implementation Overview
- Large-scale introduction of commercial electrified vehicles (approximately 580 units)
- Heavy-duty FC electric trucks
- Light-duty FC electric trucks
- Light-duty BEV trucks
- Mini-commercial van BEVs
- Construction of an energy management system integrated with operational management
Linking vehicle, charging/hydrogen filling infrastructure, and operational management data to realize the following
- Reduce downtime by optimizing charging/hydrogen refueling timing and delivery plans, considering the remaining battery/hydrogen level of the vehicle
- Propose optimal charging amount and timing for electrified vehicles on the business sites and on route, considering the power consumption of buildings as well as delivery plans to equalize the overall power demand on the business sites of consignors and logistics businesses
- Participating partners, as of July 19, 2022 (in alphabetical order)
- Fukushima Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Air Liquide Japan G.K.
- Amazon Japan G.K.
- Asahi Group Japan, Ltd.
- Ban-ei Transportation Co., Ltd
- COCA-COLA BOTTLERS JAPAN INC.
- Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd
- ENEOS Corporation
- FamilyMart Co., Ltd.
- FUKUYAMA TRANSPORTING Co., Ltd.
- Hino Motors, Ltd.
- Hitachi Transport System, Ltd.
- Isuzu Motors Limited
- Iwatani Corporation
- JAPAN POST Co., Ltd.
- Lawson, Inc.
- NEMOTO Corporation
- NIPPON EXPRESS Co., Ltd.
- Onahama Packaging Materials Co., Ltd.
- Sagawa Express Co., Ltd.
- SATONENRYO CO., LTD.
- Seino Transportation Co., Ltd.
- Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd.
- Shioya Sangyo, Ltd.
- Suzuki Motor Corporation
- Tamura Kenzai Co., Ltd.
- TOKYO GAS Co., Ltd.
- TOMOE SHOKAI Co., Ltd.
- TOYOTA MOBILITY PARTS Co., Ltd.
- Toyota Motor Corporation
- Yamato Densetsu Co., Ltd.
- YAMATO TRANSPORT Co., Ltd.
- YORK-BENIMARU CO., Ltd.
- Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST
Toyota Statement – 10/7/2022:
We recognize that the measures for preventing re-occurrence publicly announced by Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino) today are the result of the company’s sincere consideration of the strict correction order from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regarding Hino’s repeated misconduct.
We believe that these measures will not produce immediate results, so Hino itself must make persistent and continuous efforts over time to be reborn as a company worthy of the trust of its stakeholders.
As Toyota, we will continue supporting Hino so that these announced measures will be effective. Specifically, we will support Hino in areas and operations where we can, including in work related to engine certification for light-duty trucks, as the company has requested. Furthermore, we will share Toyota’s accumulated know-how with Hino, such as in responding to those suppliers affected by the issue.