‘Archion’ Announced as New Holding Company as Daimler Truck and Toyota Finalise FUSO–Hino Merger

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After nearly two years of planning and regulatory delays, Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corporation have officially revealed the name of the new joint holding company that will oversee the integration of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors. The new company will be called Archion, marking the start of a new era in Japan’s commercial vehicle industry.

Originally announced as a partnership in May 2023, the merger aims to improve operational efficiency and speed up the shift to electrified and connected vehicles. A final agreement was signed in mid-2025, and Archion is now set to begin operations in April 2026, coinciding with the start of Japan’s fiscal year.

Archion will own 100% of both Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors, though both brands will continue to operate independently. Daimler Truck and Toyota will each hold 25% of Archion’s shares, while the remaining 50% is expected to be offered through a public listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime Market or possibly acquired by another investor.

The partners have described the integration as a way to implement a “coordinated platform strategy” across light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles, combining their strengths without erasing brand identity. By aligning development, procurement, logistics, and production, the companies aim to reduce duplication, cut costs, and strengthen competitiveness in Japan and abroad.

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In a major restructuring, Archion plans to consolidate five truck production sites into three by 2028 — retaining Fuso’s Kawasaki plant, Hino’s Koga and Nitta plants, while transferring Hino’s Hamura plant back to Toyota and integrating Mitsubishi Fuso’s Nakatsu facility into Kawasaki.

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The holding will focus heavily on CASE technologies, Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric and on driving CO₂ neutrality. Hydrogen technology will play a central role, with both manufacturers already active in battery-electric and fuel-cell truck development.

Leadership for Archion has also been confirmed. Karl Deppen, current Mitsubishi Fuso CEO, will head the new company as CEO. Satoshi Ogiso, Hino’s current CEO, will serve as CTO and Executive Director, while Hetal Laligi, Fuso’s CFO, will become CFO and Representative Director. Christian Herrmann and Kiyotaka Ise will join as Non-Executive Directors.

“Today we take the next step to bring our shared vision to life,” said Deppen. “With Archion, we aim to deliver the future of commercial mobility. With the strong brands FUSO and Hino, we’ll provide superior products and solutions while building trust through transparency and performance.”

Incoming CFO Hetal Laligi added: “Our ambition is to unlock the full potential of this integration by realizing synergies, driving growth, and elevating financial resilience to benchmark levels.”

With Archion now officially named and structured, the FUSO–Hino alliance is set to rival the Isuzu–UD Trucks partnership, reshaping Japan’s trucking landscape and setting the tone for the next generation of zero-emission commercial transport.