Hino Motors Invests $3 Million in West Virginia Facility

Japanese truck maker Hino Motors Manufacturing plans to add 20 jobs and spend nearly $3 million to expand its West Virginia truck assembly plant.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced the new investment at the Wood County facility with company officials and representatives of U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin. The senators helped bring Hino to West Virginia.

The Williamstown operation employs around 140 workers full-time. Tomblin said Hino will add 20 full-time jobs there by 2013.

The governor said the company has pledged to spend an additional $3 million with outside parts suppliers to support the Williamstown expansion.

The announcement follows Tomblin’s 10-day trade mission to Japan. Tomblin said the trip included private meetings with senior executives at Hino and other Japanese firms that employ West Virginians.