TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Hino Motors Ltd will enter into a global sales tie-up with Swedish rival Scania AB in an effort to expand sales channels in Asia, South America and other emerging markets, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources.

As a first step, Scania will begin sales next April of 4-ton middle duty Hino trucks in South Korea through its local dealership network, the business daily said. Scania will also handle maintenance, repairs and parts, it said.

With the arrangement, Hino is aiming for a 10 pct market share there in two to three years, according to the report.

The two are also studying mutually supplying their products in a broader region in the future, with Hino handling Thailand, Indonesia and other Asian markets and Scania taking charge of Europe and South America, including Brazil, the Nihon Keizai said.

The two firms began their partnership in 2002, initially exchanging engineers. But the alliance remained confined to Japan, where Hino began handling sales of Scania trucks in 2003, the report said.

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