Al Futtaim – HINO

Hino

Recently years have seen the successful dealer and automotive brand partnership of the commercial vehicles division of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group and HINO continue to re-write the light duty truck handbook in the UAE with the pair racing ahead of the competition with growth of 25% from 2018 to 2019 alone.

HINO falls under the commercial vehicles division of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group and, as such, offers customers access to a wellestablished network of 3S facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Between 2015 and 2019, HINO trucks enjoyed a rise in market share from 8% to 33%, effectively doubling the size of the unit’s sales and employee numbers subsequently rose to 105. The company is determined to ensure that growth continues unabated and is focused on getting closer to customers through the HINO aftersales Total Support programme which is designed to minimise the downtime of vehicles.

Indeed, Al-Futtaim and HINO have effectively answered the increased demand for commercial vehicles products and services in the market by offering comprehensive tailormade solutions to customers, including genuine spare parts, service contracts, 24/7 service support and specialised technical support.

To help fleets optimise the total cost of truck ownership and make a positive contribution to the bottom line, experts from Al-Futtaim’s Commercial Vehicle Division are providing eco-driving training to drivers of fuel delivery operators. Offered through the ‘HINO Total Support’ scheme, their training helps fleet owners improve fuel efficiency, minimise the cost of wear and tear, reduce service and maintenance costs as well as insurance premiums and decrease the risk of major road accidents. In addition, financial, rental and insurance packages complete a compelling offering for fleets.

According to Ramez Hamdan, general manager, HINO, Al-Futtaim Automotive Group, HINO trucks are cheaper on operational costs, have lower diesel consumption and require less maintenance and bigger service intervals than rivals in their class.

“HINO trucks are known for their durability, versatility and the ‘Total Support’ aftersales concept in terms of service contracts and spare parts availability, makes them the trusted partner for companies – I thank our partners for their trust in our trucks and confirm our commitment to deliver our dedicated aftersales solutions,” says Hamdan.

The versatility of the HINO trucks is opening exciting new areas for the company to operate in. The brand’s presence in the F&B industry, for instance, has been increasing year-on-year. Its progress has also been boosted by the winning of major tenders for waste management vehicles in Abu Dhabi with the West Coast Group company and in the Northern Emirates with sector-leader Bee’ah.

Trucks carrying the Japanese marque include the heavy-duty Hino 700 Series (with up to 100t GVW). The Hino 500 Series (with an operating capacity range from 10 to 28t GVW), meanwhile, offers a range of applications, such as tipper trucks, curtain siders, reefer trucks as well as general cargo (the Hino 500 Series maximises efficiency and

The versatility of AFM’s roster of HINO trucks is opening exciting new areas for the company to operate in, such as the F&B sector.

significantly reduces consumption thanks to class-leading engine and transmission choices, says Hamdan).

The period prior to the disruption cased by the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably belonged to the Hino 300 Series: a range that offers payload capacities up to 6t and different engine power options of 140 and 156 hp. The incredibly flexible light trucks sold in the UAE are able to complete any role efficiently and safely; and have become the vehicle of choice for the major fuel delivery firms in the Emirates.

More than 220 HINO 300 series 714 NWB tons and 916 SWB 6 tons trucks were handed over to fuel delivery operator customers in 2019, including CAFU, the Middle East’s first ondemand fuel delivery service app. It’s a relationship the places the trucks at the forefront of the digital revolution transforming the UAE market. While purchases by ENOC and ADNOC, have further cemented its position as the preferred light and medium trucks partner for businesses in the country.

All three firms have subsequently won major key tenders with major companies in the transportation and food and beverage sectors, such as Almarai, National Food Company, Al Rawabi, Emirates Transport, Falcon Pack, Marmum Dairy, Masafi. With so many now performing a critical role in the infrastructure of fuel supply in the UAE, Hamdan is understandably proud to see the trucks proving their worth across the country.

“We are very pleased to see HINO becoming the backbone of the booming fuel delivery sector,” he enthuses.

To build the trucks to specification, HINO teamed up with GORICA and CMC to carry out the customisation of the trucks for CAFU, ENOC and ADNOC respectively, “to ensure they fit the operational needs for each business and conform to the set safety standards in the UAE,” explains Hamdan.

The success in the fuel delivery sector is the result of several years of hard work in establishing a sophisticated support network for fleets. According to Hamdan, AlFuttaim’s HINO operation aspires to seamlessly integrate with operators in several ways to ensure all-important uptime is maintained. Fleets are helped out in the field where they need assistance the most.

“We can get our mobile service van to a customer site at any time, 24/7,” Hamdam says. “Effectively, we don’t disturb the customer operation, moreover, our service intervals are more than our competitors’ which gives the client

Success in the fuel delivery sector is the result of several years of hard work in establishing a sophisticated support network for fleets.

HINO falls under the commercial vehicles division of the Al-Futtaim Automotive Group and, as such, offers customers access to a wellestablished network of 3S facilities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

an advantage where the truck is stopping fewer times for a service.”

With many customers opting for service and maintenance or repair and maintenance contracts, the company can also fall back on substantial aftersales infrastructure both within Al-Futtaim and from the Hino Middle East parts depot in Jebal Ali Free Zone. Located on the outskirts of Dubai, the facility ensures that parts availability is very high. It will also open a new 3S (sales, service and spare parts) facility in Sharjah this year.

The flexibility of the Hino range has enabled Al-Futtaim to offer different solutions to a multitude of sectors in a market that is more interested in safety, reliability and productivity than ever before. Their rise to prominence has also been complemented by an evolution in the trucks themselves. A redesigned 500 Series offering a modernised exterior as well as a host of enhanced safety features and driver comfort improvements has been warmly received, for example. However, with our interview drawing to a close, Hamdan singles out the Hino 300 Series hybrid truck as a vehicle to look out for.

The rearraged Expo 2020 Dubai event will celebrate advances in sustainability and mobility as the world confronts the challenge of climate change in the decades ahead. And the Hino 300 Series hybrid truck typifies solutions that will be needed. The truck was the first to employ a Euro 4 and EVV compliant 4L diesel engine matched to an auxiliary electric motor that is emission-free amd significantly reduces emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.

A UAE leader in sustainable mobility, Al-Futtaim has already begun rolling it out to customers.

CONTACT

Al Futtaim – HINO Dubai: Tel: 800 HINO SALES (800 4466 72537) GPS Coordinates: Lat: N 25° 14’ 6’’ Long: E 55° 21’ 42 ‘’

Sharjah: Tel: 800 HINO SALES (800 4466 72537) GPS Coordinates: Lat: N 25° 19’ 4’’ Long: E 55° 25’ 40’’

Musaffah, Abu Dhabi: Tel: 800 HINO SALES (800 4466 72537) GPS Coordinates: Lat: N 24° 22’ 48’’ Long: E 54° 29’ 56’’