Hino's initial 2022 disclosure said its engine data misconduct dated from around 2016.

Why this label

Reuters reports that Hino's earlier disclosure pointed to a period of around 2016^S3. The committee of lawyers and a corporate adviser that Hino set up found falsification from at least October 2003^S3. The company's own commissioned investigation contradicts the earlier account. Japan's transport ministry later issued a corrective order to Hino over the misconduct^S6. The Justice Department says Hino engineers regularly altered emission test data and submitted false certification applications from 2010 to 2019^S2. We could not reach Hino's original 2022 disclosure or the committee report on Hino's website, so the earlier position rests on Reuters' description.

Current procedural position

Commissioned committee findings released on 2 August 2022^S3. Ministry corrective order issued on 9 September 2022^S6. Hino's US guilty plea accepted on 19 March 2025^S2. Final.

Evidence score: 77 of 100

The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Hino Motors, Ltd.. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.

Timeline

1. March 2022Transport ministry revokes certification of affected engines^S3
2. 2 August 2022Hino's committee reports falsification from at least October 2003^S3
3. 9 September 2022Transport ministry issues a corrective order and starts steps to revoke more type designations^S6
4. 19 March 2025US court accepts Hino's guilty plea^S2

Related cases

• United States v. Hino Motors, Ltd.US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Criminal. 2:25-CR-20016.Stage: Sentenced on 19 March 2025. Five-year probation running.
  • 15 January 2025 Criminal information filed and plea agreement announced, subject to court approval^S1S7
  • 19 March 2025 Plea accepted, fine of US$521.76 million, forfeiture of US$1.087 billion, probation and import ban imposed^S2
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Hino Motors, Ltd.Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. Regulatory. Not published.Stage: Certification of affected engines revoked in March 2022, as reported^S3. Corrective order issued and revocation steps for more engine types begun on 9 September 2022^S6.
  • March 2022 Certification of the affected engines revoked^S3
  • 9 September 2022 Corrective order to reform Hino's systems, and procedures begun to revoke type designations of engines that failed emissions standards^S6

Responses

• Hino Motors, Ltd., 2 August 2022: Hino's president apologised to reporters when the committee findings were released, as Reuters reported.^S3

Revision history

• 25 October 2026 Assessment first published with label Contradicted.

Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.

Sources

1. S3Tier C Toyota unit falsified emissions data from at least 2003, probe findsReuters, republished by Cyprus Mail. Press report. 2 August 2022.Reuters report on the committee findings, Hino's earlier disclosure and the ministry revocation. No individual byline is shown and the committee report was not read.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
2. S2Tier A Court Sentences Hino Motors Ltd., a Toyota Subsidiary, and Imposes Over $1.6B in Penalties for Emissions Fraud SchemeUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 19 March 2025.Supports the plea acceptance, the sentence, the probation and the conduct from 2010 to 2019. It does not cover conduct in Japan.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
3. S6Tier A 日野自動車に対する対応についてMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. Regulator press release. 9 September 2022.Ministry release on the corrective order and the start of revocation procedures for engines that failed emissions standards. The order text sits in linked appendices that were not read.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
4. S1Tier A Hino Motors, a Toyota Subsidiary, Agrees to Plead Guilty and Pay Over $1.6B to Resolve Emissions Fraud SchemeUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 15 January 2025.Supports the plea agreement and the US$1.6 billion total. At the time the plea was not yet entered.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
5. S7Tier A United States v. Hino Motors, Ltd.US Department of Justice, Energy and Natural Resources Division. Government press release. 15 January 2025.DOJ case page giving the docket number 2:25-CR-20016 and the case open date. It lists no court documents.Link working, checked 25 October 2026

Other claims about Hino Motors, Ltd.

• Supported93
  The Justice Department announced in January 2025 that Hino agreed to plead guilty and pay over US$1.6 billion to resolve an emissions fraud scheme.
  Regulator statement, 15 January 20254 records citedFraud
• Outdated71
  Justice Department releases in 2025 described Hino Motors as a Toyota subsidiary.
  Regulator statement, 19 March 20253 records citedCorporate status