FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Hino Motors Manufacturing (HMM) has opened its U.S. head office and sales service training center in Farmington Hills, Mich.

"In moving our U.S. headquarters to the heart of the automobile industry, we place ourselves in an excellent position to further expand our market share and better coordinate our manufacturing operations in the United States," said Hideichiro Chikahiro, president of HMM. "Business-wise, being located in Michigan enables us to be within a close proximity to our core customer base."

Hino says the move expands its presence in the U.S. and allows the company to leverage the highly skilled resources located through the region. From this location, the company will coordinate management of its California and Arkansas manufacturing plants while overseeing product planning, quality assurance, purchasing and procurement as well as legal, administrative and human resources operations.

Hino’s Michigan digs include a 34,000 sq. ft. facility that 20 employees will call home. Hino says it will increase its staff there to more than 30 over the next three years.