Consolidation moves may rock the nation's truck industry due to flagging demand, with some of the four major truck makers envisioning greater investment by foreign automakers.
Isuzu Motors Ltd., Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Hino Motors Ltd. and Mitsubishi Fuso Trick & Bus Corp. received one-time gains from tougher exhaust gas regulations imposed in October by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The new ordinance prompted trucking operators to buy vehicles with mechanisms allowing greater reductions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide in diesel exhaust.