www.chinabuses.org: Two Japanese truck and bus manufacturers, Isuzu and Hino, and two Chinese competitors, FAW and Foton, are giving finishing touches to their India plans. Top executives of these companies have in recent months held a series of discussions with potential dealers to set up joint ventures or enter distribution and marketing tie-ups with companies, according to industry observers and dealers.

Hino Motors, part of the Toyota group, has already imported around 200 premium-range vehicles. Isuzu which has a stake in Swaraj Mazda is exploring the possibility of launching smaller commercial vehicles and buses.

Chinese manufacturer Foton plans to directly enter the Indian market by setting up a plant in Pune, according to reports in the Indian press. China-based FAW has a tie up with Ural India to market buses and manufacture low-floor buses. Recently SAIC, another Chinese auto major which picked a majority stake in General Motors India plans to launch its Wuling range of light vehicles in the country by 2011.