08/08/2008 21:22. Aug. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Hino Motors Ltd. , Japan's largest maker of heavy trucks, said it will build a factory in Mexico to boost international sales as domestic demand wanes.

The factory in Guanajuato, Mexico, will have annual capacity of 1,200 vehicles and will start operations in July 2009, the company said in a statement today.

Hino, 50 percent owned by Toyota Motor Corp. , is looking to expand outside of Japan as domestic demand from bus and transport companies fall amid record oil prices. The company, which sold 272 trucks in Mexico last fiscal year, aims to sell 1,000 there this fiscal year, spokesman Yoshihiro Udagawa said.

Tokyo-based Hino will hold an 80 percent stake in the... // Bloomberg