~ Introducing the completed truck and comments from our team members ~

　Hino Motors will be competing as "HINO TEAM SUGAWARA" in Dakar Rally 2025, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 3rd to 17th, 2025. Since becoming the first Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer to race in this rally in 1991, the company has continued to finish in all Dakar events it has competed in, and extended its streak of finishes to 33 in Dakar Rally 2024.
　In taking on this rally known as the "world's most grueling" for the 34th time in Saudi Arabia, our aim is to produce vehicles with excellent QDR* and enable our people to grow and flourish even further by drawing on the experience we have cultivated over the years.

* Quality, Durability, Reliability

　

　For the 2025 event, the team's truck based on the bonnet truck (HINO 600 Series) received upgrades including changes and enhancements to parts and piping routes. Also, to improve the truck's reliability and keep it in the race, we have made changes to our maintenance setup by further enhancing our preventive maintenance processes, and eliminating maintenance redundancies that can eat into staff availability and time.

■ Head of Development: Takuma Tsuchiya, Dakar Challenge Group, Technical Strategy & Engineering Management Div.
Hino Motors believes that the significance of racing in the Dakar Rally is that it embodies the "total support" efforts we provide to our customers to ensure that their vehicles continue to work. The truck for this year's Dakar was developed with improved engine power and ease of maintenance, reducing the burden on the crew and mechanics, which in turn will lead to better results.

　

Racing truck specifications(Click here)

	Driver：Teruhito Sugawara
Base vehicle	HINO 600 Series
Truck weight	8,310 kg
Engine model	A09C-TI (with turbo intercooler)
Engine type	4-stroke inline 6-cylinder diesel
Displacement	8.866 L
Maximum engine power/rpm	816 PS/2,800 rpm
Maximum engine torque/rpm	250 kgm (2,415Nm)/1,400 rpm
Fuel tank capacity	800 L
Drive system	Full-time 4WD
Transmission	AT (6 forward, 1 reverse)
Transfer	With Hi-Lo range switch and center differential lock
Brakes	Ventilated disc brakes front and rear
Tires	XZL 14.00R 20
Air pressure regulation system	All four wheels independently controlled

　

　Yuji Mochizuki will be on the truck as a Hino employee crew member, and Takayuki Monma will be accompanying the team as team manager.

■ Navigator and Mechanic: Yuji Mochizuki
For Dakar Rally 2025, we have three mechanics on our team, up from the two we had last year. Additionally, we have made improvements to components and systems that experienced malfunctions in the previous race to improve the reliability of the truck. We have also made our team structure more robust and matured our truck, and we will do whatever we can to reduce the amount of time the truck is forced to stop due to problems so that we can achieve good results.

■ Team Manager: Takayuki Monma
This year, three new dealer mechanics joined us starting at the truck fabrication stage, and I can see that they have honed their knowledge and skills, as well as their communication skills and teamwork. In Dakar Rally 2025, I am going to do all I can to provide support and create an environment where team members can work without stress, and do my utmost to help us reach the finish line safely and with good results.

Yuji Mochizuki, Navigator and Mechanic

Takayuki Monma, Team Manager

　

　Three dealership mechanics were selected from across the country to join the team as mechanics: Soichiro Kashiwaya from Aomori Hino Motors, Soken Sho from Minami Kanto Hino Motors, and Chifumi Uehara from Nagano Hino Motors.

■ Mechanic: Soichiro Kashiwaya, Aomori Hino Motors
I have been involved in the truck's fabrication since August this year, and I am feeling more and more excited as the Dakar approaches. The atmosphere and sense of unity within the team is great, and I think we will be able to work as a coherent team and perform at our best. I am ready to put my body and soul into this so that we can achieve good results.

■ Mechanic: Soken Sho, Minami Kanto Hino Motors
We are going to work together as a closely-knit team, regardless of how harsh the conditions may be, to service the truck in perfect condition so that the driver can drive it with peace of mind. I also hope to bring all the experience I gain in the Dakar back to my dealership so that I can be even more effective in what I do.

■ Mechanic: Chifumi Uehara, Nagano Hino Motors
I am confident that we can handle any problems that we might come across by leveraging the experience and teamwork we have gained since the truck fabricating stage. I also hope to fully utilize the skills as a mechanic that I have developed over the years to help the team extend its streak of finishes and achieve good results.

Soichiro Kashiwaya,
Aomori Hino Motors

Soken Sho,
Minami Kanto Hino Motors

Chifumi Uehara,
Nagano Hino Motors

　

　Please make sure to visit the team's social media outlets and the official Hino website for the latest news on the Dakar Rally and up-to-date information. Thank you very much for your support.

　

End of release