Company History

As Japan rapidly industrialized in the 1930s, demand for trucks was greater than for passenger vehicles. Many new automakers were founded around that time, including the forerunners to Nissan Motors and Toyota Motor in 1932 and 1933, respectively, and the forerunner to UD Trucks in 1935.

1935
Nihon Diesel Industries, Ltd., founded by Kenzo Adachi in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture
1938
Birth of the first diesel engine, the ND1
1942
Company name changed to Kanega-Fuchi Diesel Co., Ltd
1946
Company name changed to Minsei Sangyo Co., Ltd
1950
Company name changed to Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd

Although automobile production was initially restricted after the end of World War II, manufacturing of trucks was allowed from the end of 1945 because they were essential for reconstruction, prompting domestic automakers to develop new engines.

1955
Birth of the original UD engine

As Japan’s economy grew rapidly from the 1950s, larger and more powerful trucks were needed for large-scale infrastructure construction, including roads, railways, ports, and sewage systems. Construction efforts accelerated following Tokyo’s successful bid to hold the 1964 Olympic Games.

1958
Sales begin for the 6TW model truck. As Japan’s first truck with a payload over 10 tons, the 6TW was used in the construction of the country’s first shinkansen bullet train line.
1960
Company name changed to Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
1962
Operations of the Ageo Plant commence
1975
Sales begin for the Condor medium-duty truck
1990
Sales begin for the Big Thumb heavy-duty truck

Amid growing environmental awareness worldwide in the 1990s, Japan enacted legislation to limit nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from vehicles in 1992. By 2005, the country began enforcing the world’s strictest diesel exhaust emissions regulations.

2004
Sales begin for the Quon heavy-duty truck, the world’s first equipped with a urea selective catalytic reduction system for reducing NOx emissions
2007
Nissan Diesel Motor joins the Volvo Group
2010
Company name changed to UD Trucks Corporation
2013
Sales begin for the Quester heavy-duty truck designed for emerging markets
2014
Sales begin for the Kazet light-duty truck
2014
Sales begin for the Croner medium-duty truck and Kuzer light-duty truck, both designed for emerging markets