The new Komatsu forklift simultaneously released in Japan and overseas.

The global release of Komatsu Forklift Co's new AX50/BX50 forklift this week marks the first time the company has simultaneously released a product at home and overseas.

On Wednesday, Komatsu released the new forklift, which is a full model change of the Leo-NXT forklift released in Japan in July 2002.

Forkliftaction.com News's source at Komatsu said the company was releasing the new model for the overseas market immediately because it had sufficient confidence of its quality.

"The Leo-NXT model was not released for the overseas market and thus the AX50/BX50 series is really a full-scale model change - but not so much for the domestic market," he said.

The new forklift has a double suspension system to reduce vibration.

"Double suspension is a unique and major change. The power train is not directly mounted to the chassis, ensuring no vibration transfer when the truck is standing still while the suspended operator compartment absorbs shock from the road surface when travelling," he said.

The new forklift is priced from JPY1.5 million (USD14,400) to JPY3.5 million (USD33,637).

Annual sales of 27,000 units are targeted. The forklift will initially be made at a factory in Tochigi Prefecture, with plans to start production at plants in Europe, China and the US by year end.