Volvo Group Australia has moved quickly to clarify statements made by the Nikkei Asian Review about UD signing an OEM agreement with Isuzu Motors for the supply of mid-size trucks in Japan.
The Nikkei Asian Review says UD’s Ageo plant in Saitama Prefecture will cease production of midsize trucks for Japan in 2017. The Japanese company aims later to stop making midsize trucks for overseas markets as well.
“To avoid inaccurate reports, we would like to take the opportunity to clarify the current situation,” Tom Chapman, Internal & External Communications Manager at Volvo Group Australia, told CRTNews.
Chapman advised CRTNews the landmark agreement was made to prepare UD Trucks for Japan’s next-level emission targets (PPNLT) and is not final just yet.
The agreement’s impact on UD’s Australian and New Zealand operations is therefore also still subject to speculation.
“The agreement simply means we have entered into a partnership with another manufacturer, and UD Trucks will offer medium-duty trucks in cooperation with them in the future,” said Chapman.
“For the time being, however, UD Trucks Australia will continue to supply the current UD Trucks medium-duty model range in Australia and New Zealand,” he says.
“UD Trucks Australia is committed to meeting the demands of present and future customers with competitive product offerings,” says Chapman.
According to the Nikkei Asian Review, UD sold more than 2,000 midsize trucks in Japan in 2015. But that number was less than one-quarter of the company’s sales for large trucks.
Outside Japan, it says UD aims to bolster efforts to cultivate emerging markets by manufacturing models targeting them in Thailand and elsewhere.
