CHARLESTON, WVA – Hino will increase the size of its manufacturing operation in West Virginia as it prepares to produce a new line of Class 7-8 trucks for the North American market.

The new trucks will be powered by the A09 nine-liter engine available in other global markets, and are scheduled to be revealed at the NTEA Work Truck Show in March.

 “These are truly exciting times for Hino in the U.S.,” said Yoshinori Noguchi, Chief Executive Officer of Hino North America. “Our growth and customer acceptance in the Class 4-7 market are enabling us to introduce a wider variety of products.”

The company will relocate current Williamstown, West Virginia, activities to Mineral Wells, following a US $100 million investment that will create an estimated 250 new jobs by 2020. The existing Williamstown site produces Class 6 and 7 models and covers 245,000 square feet, but the Mineral Wells facility will cover 962,000 square feet.

The new site will house several operations including cab assembly that currently takes place in Japan.

The existing Williamstown plant employs 295 workers.

“Hino has been a valued member of our business community since 2007,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Woody Thrasher. “When the company was ready to consolidate operations in an expanded facility, West Virginia was ready to help find and secure the right site. Hino’s expansion will return an existing structure to active production and create more good manufacturing jobs right here in West Virginia.”

– an original version of this article was updated to reflect plans for a Class 7-8 truck lineup.