Japan on the Way Up
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THE production of 'commercial vehicles in Japan has shown a steady increase since 1949. In that year, 15,843 good.s vehicles and 2,429 buses were built, whereas for 1954 the respective totals were
27.940 and 5,584. 11 is estimated that just over 500.000 people are at present directly engaged in vehicle production and about the same number is employed on the accessory side.
Whilst Japan finds it difficult to compete in world markets with petrol-engined trucks, a ready outlet is found for fireengines and oil-engined dumpers and lorries. Where Japan cannot compete on price, the reason given is the cost of domestic raw materials.
Exports in 1954 showed a decline because of a loss of orders from the important -.Okinawa and Formosan markets, but new outlets have been found in Brazil, Turkey, Iraq and Chile. An order recently completed for Chile was for 300 Fuso oil-engined buses.
Three-wheelers are becoming increasingly popular on the domestic market. partly because they cost less than fourwheelers of about the same payload capacity. Last year. three-wheeler production was nearly twice that of lour-wheelers. the respective figures being 101,902 and 61.585.
Amongst Japan's new vehicles is a Hino 11-deck coach which is operated by the Nishi Nippon Railway Co. It has an underfloor oil engine which develops 125 b.h.p. With a body by the Nishi Nippon Coach Body Company, it is the only Japanese-built vehicle of its type in the country.
Hino's have also produced a new 7+-ton oil-engined lorry which employs a 125 b.h.p. vertical unit.
The Prince concern has introduced a 2-tonner powered by a 52 b.h.p, petrol ( Left) A Prince petrolengirted 2-tonner having a full-fronted cab. I: is one oftke models intended to compete in the strong three wheeler market.
engine. It has a fullfronted cab and in its general styling, closely resembles vehicles built in Europe. This is one of the lighter types of four wheeler with which it is hoped to make inroads into the three-wheeler market.
T.K.K. railways are operating a single-deck bus which has been produced by Minsei. It is of the, normalcontrol type, with a long overhang both at the front and rear. There is a central entrance .on the left-hand side. A second door, on the right-hand side, gives access to the driving seat.
One of the most powerful vehicles in the country is the Fuso oil-engined coach with a power unit 'rated at 150 b.h.p. This is also a new model. A vehicle for which a good future is predicted is the hew Toyopet 1-tonner built by Toxota Motors. Ti has a 30 b.h.p. engine.