UD Trucks
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| Subsidiary of AB Volvo | |
| Industry | Trucks and buses |
| Founded | May 1, 1950 (historical December 1, 1935) |
| Headquarters | Ageo, Saitama, Japan |
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Key people
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Joachim Rosenberg, Chairman Yusuke Sakaue, President |
| Parent | Volvo |
| Subsidiaries | Dongvo Truck Company (50%) |
| Website | udtrucks.com |
UD Trucks Corporation (UDトラックス株式会社, UD Torakkusu Kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese company whose principal business is the manufacture and sales of light, medium and heavy duty diesel trucks, buses, bus chassis and special-purpose vehicles. Its headquarters is located in Ageo, Saitama, Japan. The company is owned 100% by the Volvo Group since 2007. Until 2010, it was known as Nissan Diesel, the company changed its name to UD Trucks. Already before the name change, the UD name was prominently displayed to separate the identity from that of their former owner Nissan Motors.
The UD name was originally used for the company's Uniflow Diesel Engine (known as Two-stroke Engine), developed in 1955, but is now marketed as meaning "Ultimate Dependability".
On February 15, 2010 it was announced that UD Trucks had taken over the import and sales of Volvo trucks in Japan, as a consequence of Volvo's ownership.
In 1935, Nihon Diesel Industries, Ltd, in Kawaguchi, Japan on the outskirts of Tokyo was established. The company started production of KD-series 2-cycle diesel engines. In 1940 production of 4.5-ton-payload TT6 series trucks started. In development of 7.5-ton-payload TN93 series trucks, featuring the largest payload capacity in the Japanese market, and the nation's first monocoque-type BR3 series buses with rear-mounted engines. In 1949 development of 7.5-ton-payload TN93 series trucks started.
In 1950 the company name changed to Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd.; and the company was on the way to becoming a comprehensive transport equipment manufacturer. In 1955 the UD name was born, when Minsei Diesel Industries introduced a range uniflow-scavenging 2-cycle diesel engine. Of course, the UD stood for "Uniflow Diesel", named after the engine they had invented for use in their trucks. The production of various trucks and buses with 81 kW (110 PS) UD3, 110 kW (150 PS) UD4 and 169 kW (230 PS) UD6 engines began. In 1957 the development of Japan's first RFA series air-suspension buses and 10-ton-payload 6TW10 series trucks called "Jumbo" in overseas markets began.
In 1960 the company name was changed again, this time to Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd. Forward-control trucks and truck tractors were also introduced. In 1963, there was the initial production of compact 4-cycle 40 kW (55PS) SD20 and 44 kW (60PS) SD22 diesel engines. 70 to 80-ton crane-carrier truck series were also introduced to the line-up. 1969 saw the introduction of 4-cycle 136 kW (185PS) PD6 and 99 kW (135 PS) ND6 diesel engines for heavy-duty vehicles. Diesel products were sold in Japan at a separate dealership sales channel called Nissan Diesel. In 1969, the 780-series replaced the 680-series bonneted truck.
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Wikipedia