Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is part of Daimler Truck. Another member of the Daimler Truck group is Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV).

In 2021, I was transferred from MFTBC in Japan to DICV’s manufacturing plant and headquarters in Oragadam in Chennai, India. The plant sits on over 400 acres (160 hectares) of land and has more than 4,000 employees.

My larger team includes 350 people of various nationalities working together on product development. I directly oversee two managers in India and four general managers in Japan. My direct reports in India never say, “No” or “That’s not possible,” but I’ve learned that this attitude is very common in India as, with over 1.4 billion people, it’s a competitive society. For me, awareness of and respect for cultural differences is crucial for working with diverse teams, as culture plays an important role in how business is done.

I grew up in Takayama, Gifu prefecture, and I studied mechanical engineering at Waseda University, where my research focused on heavy-duty diesel engine combustion optimization. I joined MFTBC (then Mitsubishi Motors) in 1999 and started my career in the Heavy Duty Truck Project Management team. I always wanted to work overseas and got the opportunity to come to India in the middle of the pandemic. I basically had a whole plane to myself! That was the start of a very exciting experience filled with surprises and important lessons.

Here in India, no two days are the same and, three years in, I’m still learning about the culture. For example, I know now that when I order something in a hotel or restaurant and they say, “One minute,” there’s a possibility that it might not come at all that day. I also know now that if they say, “Monday,” then nothing might ever come.

When it comes to food, in Chennai, where I live, it can be quite tough (and expensive) getting Japanese fare. Spicy vegetarian curries are popular, and I’m always on the lookout for tasty chicken dishes. But even these are still spicy.

The most important lesson I’ve learned here, however, is to accept any and all cultural differences. And I’m quite eager to work in other countries in the future.

Chennai is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, India’s southernmost state. It is home to almost seven million people with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. The office is in an industrial zone with many other motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, but the surroundings are very rural and so it is quite normal to also see cattle in the area. I am driven to and from work through heavy and chaotic traffic, as expats in India are not allowed to drive. It takes about an hour and a half in the mornings and two to three hours in the evenings.
In recent years, India’s healthy economic growth has received global attention. The vision driving our work is underpinned by growth, value creation, and transformation. I’m particularly focused on growth. Cooperation between Japan and India is key, considering India’s economic outlook and Japan’s aging society.

Mitsubishi Truck and Bus Corporation’s Hideyuki Shinkai works at the Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) plant in Oragadam in the city of Chennai, India.

Inside the DICV offices in India.

Nattukozhi kozhambu (country chicken), a fiery, aromatic Chennai favorite. It is made with freshly ground spices, shallots, tomatoes, ginger, chilies, and coconut. (Source: incredibleindia.gov.in)