Lt. Gov. Mendiola: ZO Motors Targets March Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony for ZO Motors is tentatively scheduled for March, according to CNMI Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola, pending the completion of required permits.

“We are looking at March for the groundbreaking. Of course, that is still tentative pending a lot of the permitting situation that they still have to go through,” Mendiola told Marianas Press.

Lt. Gov. Mendiola emphasized the importance of adhering to local regulations before moving forward.

“We do not want to avoid going through the permitting because that is the scrutiny we must have in the CNMI to ensure that this business entity is abiding by regulations and laws. Pending those, the tentative date for groundbreaking is in March,” he said.

In September, Mendiola and other local leaders attended the grand opening of ZM Trucks’ new U.S. headquarters and assembly plant in Fontana, California, as the company moves forward with plans to invest in Saipan.

Mendiola said he hopes Saipan can emerge as a hub for advanced manufacturing and clean technology.

According to the company’s website, ZO Motors Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of next-generation energy commercial vehicles, specializing in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of zero-emission commercial trucks produced in Asia and supported by a global supply chain.