Hino Motors, the truck manufacturing subsidiary of Toyota, has reached a significant settlement with U.S. authorities over falsified diesel emissions data. The company admitted to engaging in a multi-year conspiracy from 2010 to 2019, involving the sale of over 105,000 heavy-duty diesel engines in the United States that did not meet emissions standards. Hino falsified emissions data, submitted fraudulent engine certification applications, and fabricated test results, thus violating U.S. environmental, consumer protection, and import laws .

As part of the resolution, Hino will plead guilty to criminal charges and pay a combined settlement of $US 1.6 billion. This amount includes $US 521 million in criminal penalties, $US 442.5 million in civil penalties to U.S. authorities, and $US 236.5 million to California. Additionally, Hino will implement a comprehensive compliance and ethics program during a five-year probation period and will be barred from importing self-manufactured diesel engines into the U.S.  

A mitigation program valued at $US 155 million will address excess air pollution caused by this misconduct, replacing marine and locomotive engines. Furthermore, a recall program costing $US 144.2 million will fix faulty engines in 2017–2019 trucks. The California Air Resources Board began investigating Hino in 2019 after detecting inconsistencies in its emissions compliance submissions.

Hino’s president, Satoshi Ogiso, stated that the company has taken steps to improve its internal culture and compliance practices. He emphasized that resolving these legacy issues marks a key milestone in the company’s effort to rebuild trust . California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned Hino’s actions, stating that the company unlawfully exploited California's clean transportation incentives, which were designed to protect public health .

This scandal is part of a broader pattern within the auto industry, reminiscent of Volkswagen’s 2015 "Dieselgate" scandal, which resulted in $US 20 billion in legal penalties worldwide.