CNMI Leaders Meet with ZO Motors in California

CNMI Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola, along with other local leaders, attended the grand opening of ZM Trucks’ new U.S. headquarters and assembly plant last week in Fontana, California, as they have plans to invest in Saipan.

“The CNMI is strategically positioned in the Asia-Pacific region, and Governor Apatang and I are committed to exploring opportunities for manufacturing and investment that create jobs and diversify our economy. [The] launch shows the type of forward-looking industry we hope to welcome to our islands,” Lt. Gov. Mendiola said.

According to the company's website, ZO Motors Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of next-generation energy commercial vehicles, and a manufacturer and distributor of zero-emission commercial trucks designed and manufactured in Asia with a global supply chain. They said,"The company has achieved price parity with comparable diesel trucks, paving the way for small-to-large-sized companies to seamlessly transition from diesel to zero-emissions without compromise."

In an interview in Tacoma, Washington, at the 20th Annual CNMI Labor Day Softball Tournament, Mendiola told Marianas Press, "It is important for us to make sure to show up and support."

According to Mendiola, while ZM Trucks has not yet announced plans for a CNMI operation, his participation is a proactive approach to building global partnerships and promoting Saipan as a potential hub for advanced manufacturing and clean technology.