| |
 |
|
|
| |
First joint exhibit by Toyota,
Hino and Daihatsu |
| |
|
|
Three members of the Toyota Group occupy
more than half of the east hall with their first-ever
joint exhibit. Toyota, Hino, and Daihatsu covers three
themes, including environment, in their exhibit, which
emphasizes the all-around strengths of the Toyota Group.
On display are advanced technologies
for everything from mini-vehicles to the heavyduty trucks.
The joint theme for the three group companies
is "Logistics for the 21st Century. "The exhibit, located
in the area around the central event space, highlights
three facets of Toyota-Group technology: 1) environment,
2) ITS, and 3) welfare. The Toyota Group "tries to show
how commercial vehicles are used in daily life and industrial
activities" (Fujio Cho, Toyota President) as it shows
off its vehicles and technologies.
The "Environment Corner" features common
rail diesel engines and hybrid systems. One of the most
talked-about displays is the hybrid dieselbased truck
system that reduces emissions to one-tenth conventional
levels. This is a near-future technology developed as
a collaboration between Toyota and Hino.
The "ITS Corner" highlights the "TIME"
series of operations management and business support
tools developed by Toyota. The "Bus Location System"
is already in the testing stage, and Toyota builds its
display to look like a real bus stop, showing how information
and vehicles will be integrated in the passenger transportation
of the twenty-first century.
The third area, "Welfare," is also an
attention-getter. Daihatsu has its "Midget II / Home
nursing care Vehicle" on display. The mini car, built
to hold a wheelchair, portable toilet and full nursing
care kit, is a dynamic example of the welfare vehicles
of the future. The "HV-M4" Estima-based hybrid from
last year's show is back and features an electric wheelchair
that can be recharged inside the vehicle. Visitors were
impressed by the smooth, easily navigated slope.
The three companies also have individual
exhibits near the joint corner. Although this is a business
show, the "reference vehicles" are popular. Toyota struts
its "Kluger V" 3-liter sports utility wagon, which is
due for launch by the end of the year. Hino brought
its "Space Ranger FT," which it will be entering in
the 2001 Paris-Dakar Rally. Both brought crowds swarming
to the East Hall.
|
Toyota's bus location system
Daihatsu's Midget II Home nursing
care vehicle
The Hino Space Ranger FT
|
|
|
Special Symposium Rousing Success |
| |
|
|
To commemorate Asia's first commercial
vehicles show, the Japan Motor Industrial Federation,
Inc. held a seminar on the theme of: "The mega-merger
age of IT and logistics has come: A grand design for
the 21st century." The Federation is the organize of
the Motor Show. The symposium was held on the second
floor of the International Conference Hall at Makuhari
Messe from 1:30 the afternoon of the 1st. Speakers at
the symposium included Dr. Tsuyoshi Sasada of the Graduate
School of Osaka University, Chairman Tadao Fujimatsu
of Fujimatsu Corporation, Mr. Shiro Fujita, Counselor
to NTT Data Corp., and Mr. Yotaro Konaka, writer. The
facilitator for the symposium was noted media personality
Ms. Nami Takahashi.
The hall filled up well before the symposium
began. All 425 seats were taken, and the audience listened
attentively and enthusiastically throughout the proceedings.
|
|
|
JAPAN Auto-Body Industries Association Inc.
Features "Theme Technologies" (East Hall) |
| |
|
| In commercial
vehicles it is not just the chassis that is the star of
the show; the body -for example, the truck bed- rivals
it for attention. The Japan Auto-Body Industries Association
Inc., an organization for auto body specialists, has a
joint exhibit that organizes its member companies around
specific topics and themes. This is an exhibit worthy
of Asia's first commercial vehicle show, and we intend
to get down to the East Hall to report on it more fully
in a future issue. |
| |
|
|
The "Van/Wing Corner"
The "Van/Wing Corner" has exhibits such as chilled food
wing from six companies: Ventec, Kitamura Mfg., Fuji
Auto Body, Nippon Fruehauf, Toyota Auto Body, and Yano
Special Vehicles. Competition is fierce over refrigerated
trucks and other new van technologies. The exhibits
feature bodies that can be set for freezing, chilling
and other temperature ranges as required by the payload.
These trucks, which help support a great variety of
food, are popular with visitors from the general public.
Visitors have responded enthusiastically to the thematic
exhibits and the willingness of competitors to put aside
their rivalries for the sake of the viewer. Rather than
each company having its own narrator, a single narrator
explains the products of each in order, an innovation
that was a hit with the crowds.
The "Special Bus and One Box
Corner"
The "Special Bus and One Box Corner"
has nine companies exhibiting, including Nissan Shatai,
Izumi Motor Car, Gifu Auto Body Industry, Kanto Auto
Works and Araco. Hayashida Mfg.'s "Moving Library,"
complete with books, was particularly popular, as was
Toyota Techno Craft's "TC Pickup" truck based
on a sixties American motif.
Other highlights in this corner include innovations
with tour bus seat spacing created by Tenryu Industries,
and the lift bus for the disabled by Izumi.
|
Yano's chilled food wing
Hayashida's moving library
Toyota Techno Craft's "TC Pickup"
|
|
They'll never let you on the road, but..
(Test-ride Program) |
| |
|
|
The commercial vehicle
test-ride course has 26 vehicles from 11 domestic companies,
including Isuzu and Nissan Diesel, and 2 foreign companies.
Aspiring drivers have their pick of welfare vehicles,
buses, large trucks and trailers. On the 1st, the first
day the show was open to the public, the test course
was swamped with visitors wanting to try out that truck
that they would never be allowed to drive on the roads.
The course is short, just one lap around
the Messe, but visitors seem satisfied regardless. We
talked to Mr. Kawamura and Mr. Gotoh, both of Mito,
who came to drive the Volvo tractor head. "It was great!
We always wanted to try one of those!" they exclaimed.
The test course is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. The course starts from the Rest Zone on the
south side of the hall.
|
|
|
Safety first!
- Traffic Safety Promotion Corner - |
| |
|
|
The "Traffic Safety Promotion Corner" is located along
the left back wall as you face the East Hall. Traffic
safety may not be the "sexiest" topic at the show, but
the panel displays and handson corners have been very
popular nonetheless. The exhibit is run by the Management
and Coordination Agency.
The displays underscore the need for
using seat belts and child seats to keep passengers
safe in the event of an accident. Visitors responding
to a survey receive a free "Kachapyon" doll, the Agency's
mascot for child seat promotion. Kachapyon must be popular;
there are lines to fill out the questionnaire.
The Ministry of Construction, The Marine
& Fire Insurance Association of Japan, Inc. and other
organizations are also taking part in this call for
safer roads.
|
|
|
|
|
