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Native name | UDトラックス株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | UD Torakkusu Kabushiki-gaisha |
| Formerly |
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | December 1, 1935; 89 years ago (1935-12-01) |
| Founder | Kenzo Adachi |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
Key people | |
| Products | Trucks |
| Parent | Isuzu |
| Website | udtrucks |
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社,UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese company whose principal business is the manufacturing and sales of dieseltrucks,buses, bus chassis and special-purpose vehicles. Its headquarters are located inAgeo, Saitama, Japan. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary ofIsuzu since 2021.[1] Until 2010, the company was known asNissan Diesel.
The UD name was originally used for the company's Uniflow Diesel Engine (atwo-stroke diesel engine), developed in 1955, but is now marketed as meaning "Ultimate Dependability".[2]
In December 1935,Nihon Diesel Industries, Ltd, inKawaguchi, Japan on the outskirts ofTokyo was established under the leadership of Kenzo Adachi, where he purchased diesel engine schematics from a Krupp-Junkers patent. The company started production of KD-series2-cycle diesel engines after entering into partnership and technology exchange withFriedrich Krupp AG.[3] In November 1939, to test the durability of the LD1 truck, the company went on a 3,000 km (1,864.1 mi) test drive across Japan. The drive went to the villages ofHakone,Osaka,Kyoto,Gero,Ikaho,Niigata andAizu before returning to Kawaguchi. The route was on very primitive mountain roads and very rural conditions. The truck returned 13 days later on November 20 without incurring any failure, and soon the trucks’ reliability became known.[4] In 1940 production of 4.5-ton-payload TT6 series trucks started, and in 1942 the company was now known asKanega-Fuchi Diesel Co., Ltd. In development of 7.5-ton-payload TN93 series trucks, featuring the largest payload capacity in the Japanese market, and the nation's firstmonocoque-type BR3 series buses with rear-mounted engines.In 1946 the company name changed toMinsei Industries, Ltd.In 1949 development of 7.5-ton-payload TN93 series trucks started.
In 1950Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd. was spun off from Minsei Industries; and the company was on the way to becoming a comprehensive transport equipment manufacturer. In 1955 the UD name was born, when Minsei Diesel Industries introduced a range uniflow-scavenging 2-cycle diesel engine. Of course, the UD stood for "Uniflow Diesel", named after the engine they had invented for use in their trucks. The production of various trucks and buses with 81 kW (110 PS) UD3, 110 kW (150 PS) UD4 and 169 kW (230 PS) UD6 engines began. In 1957 the development of Japan's first RFA series air-suspension buses and 10-ton-payload 6TW10 series trucks called "Jumbo" in overseas markets began.
In 1960,Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. acquired Minsei Diesel, and was renamedNissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. Forward-control trucks and truck tractors were also introduced. In 1963, there was the initial production of compact 4-cycle 40 kW (55PS)SD20 and 44 kW (60PS) SD22 diesel engines. 70 to 80-ton crane-carrier truck series were also introduced to the line-up. 1969 saw the introduction of 4-cycle 136 kW (185PS)PD6 and 99 kW (135 PS)ND6 diesel engines for heavy-duty vehicles. Diesel products were sold in Japan at a separate dealership sales channel calledNissan Diesel. In 1969, the 780-series replaced the 680-series bonneted truck.
In 1971 the heavyNissan Diesel C-series arrived, being replaced by the second generation in 1979. 1972 saw the marketing of V-type 206 kW (280 PS)RD8 and 257 kW (350 PS)RD10 diesel engines. In 1973, light-duty trucks were produced for theNissan Motor Company.
In 1982 there was the introduction of new forward-control cab for the CWA52/45 series trucks (sold as theNissan Diesel Resona in Japan), CKA-T series truck tractors and ultra-modern U(A)21, U(A)31, RA51 series buses. As of 1985 the company had a wide range of light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as buses and special-purpose vehicles such as crane carriers. In 1989 there was an agreement withIVECO of Italy to jointly develop low-pollution diesel engines.
In 1992 Nissan Diesel Philippines Corp. started manufacturing deluxe coaches in cooperation withJonckheere Bus & Coach NV/SA of Belgium. In 1995 Nissan Diesel produced its two millionth vehicles since commencing production in May 1950. 1996 brought about the establishment of PT Astra Nissan Diesel Indonesia, a joint venture company with Marubeni Corporation andAstra International, and the Dongfeng Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd, a joint venture company with Sumitomo Corporation and Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
In 2000 Nissan Diesel introduced new heavy-duty trucks in Japan and Asian countries. It also acquired the sales operation fromNissan Diesel Sales Co., Ltd. In 2003, Nissan Motor and Nissan Diesel reached a basic agreement on a light-duty truck joint venture. There was also the signing of development assistance contract for air suspension of buses with China'sDongfeng Motor Corporation.
Nissan Diesel was purchased by theVolvo Group in 2007, becoming a subsidiary. After the transaction between Nissan Motor and Volvo, Nissan Diesel's business relations with Nissan Motors continued as normal and the Nissan Diesel and UD brand names remained unchanged. Volvo also acquired the truck division ofRenault in 2001.
Starting from 2007, the OEM supply agreement between Nissan Diesel andMitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation became effective, with both companies supplying engines to each other for use in new buses, and supplying some buses to each other with the partner's badge.
On February 1, 2010, Nissan Diesel changed its name toUD Trucks. At the same time Nissan Diesel Trucks Japan, a 100% owned sales company of UD Trucks in Japan, changed its name toUD Trucks Japan.[citation needed]
On September 12, 2012, UD Trucks of North America announced that it will no longer be part of the North American truck market. Reasons given for this decision was a combination of factors, including the continued shrinking of the cab-over-engine market segment and the accelerating cost of regulatory compliance.[5]
In 2013, UD Trucks launched theUD Quester atBangkok, a new heavy-duty truck for developing countries.
In 2014, UD Trucks merged with UD Trucks Japan.[citation needed] That same year, Volvo's Volvo Buses started to market UD buses in India.[6] The first model for that market, theUD SLF, was introduced in 2015.[7]
In 2015, UD Trucks renewed its headquarters building inAgeo.
In 2016, UD Trucks started selling the Kazet, a new light-duty for the Japanese market that is supplied by Mitsubishi Fuso. In December of that year, it sold its stake in Dongvo (previously Dongfeng Nissan Diesel), a joint venture withDongfeng Motor Group, which was renamed asDongfeng Nengdi.[8]
In 2017, UD Trucks launched new versions of theQuon andCondor trucks. The Condor, a medium-duty truck, is supplied byIsuzu as part of an OEM agreement, mainly for the Japanese market. The company also launched a newCroner and the light-duty Kuzer, both aimed at developing countries.
In December 2019, Volvo signed a non-bindingmemorandum of understanding to form a strategic alliance with Isuzu. As part of the agreement, Volvo plans to eventually transfer UD Trucks to Isuzu. In October 2020, the sale agreement became binding.[9]
In April 2021, Isuzu Motors became the owner of UD Trucks, completing the sale with Volvo.[1]
UD Trucks are marketed in over 60 countries. Some of the main markets are Japan, South Africa, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
UD Trucks Southern Africa's head office and assembly plant is inRosslyn, Gauteng and includes a competency development centre. There are 36 UD Trucks dealers and service agents in South Africa and another 30 in other southern African countries, including Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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Former truck models:
UD Trucks ceased its Japanese bus production in 2011,[14] but in 2014 launched a new series ofUD Buses for theIndian market.[15]
Former bus models:
Former Bus Models (Philippines)
Front Engine Bus
Rear Engine Bus
Underwent various namechanges:
Divested fromMinsei Industries Ltd.
Minsei Diesel Industries acquired by Nissan Motor Company and subsequently renamed.
Nissan Diesel Motor Co. acquired by Volvo Group.
UD Trucks acquired by Isuzu Motors.
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