Hino Trucks has announced the launch of the XL series. The XL7 and XL8 trucks will be the first Class 8 offerings ever from Hino in the U.S. market.

Hino acknowledges the challenge of joining the Class 8 fray, with Dominik Beckman, the company’s director of marketing, noting that this is “arguably something no OEM has done successfully in the last 50 years.” But Hino’s message in announcing the trucks was of bringing its proven expertise in the medium-duty marketing to the heavy-duty side of things.

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“Considering our remarkable success in Class 4-7 in North America, and our growing global presence in the Class 8 market, entering the North American heavy-duty segment makes for the next logical step; not to mention that our customers and our dealer network have been asking for this for some time,” said Yoshinori Noguchi, president and chief executive officer of Hino Trucks North America, seen below introducing the new trucks.

The trucks will be powered by Hino’s existing A09 engine, which has been in production for more than a decade. The A09 features a range of 300-360 HP and up to 1,150 lb./ft. of torque. Several straight truck and tractor configurations will be offered, with GVWR ranging from 33,000 to 60,000 lbs., and GCWR up to 66,000 pounds.

The new trucks are expected to begin production in 2019.