The TCM and Nissan Forklift businesses will retain their brand names for now, but both began operating under a new structure on Wednesday, according to Nikkei Report.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd and Nissan Motor Co Ltd agreed in November 2011 to merge their forklift businesses, which are operated by Hitachi subsidiary TCM Corp and Nissan unit Nissan Forklift Co Ltd (Forkliftaction.com News #563). In April 2012, the two parent companies and investment fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan established UniCarriers Corp.

According to the Nikkei Report, new products sold by UniCarriers Corp could have a new brand name.

UniCarriers Corp director of corporate strategy Hideyuki Moto tells Forkliftaction.com News that the company has not decided on its product brand structure. "It should be discussed by April 2013."

Meanwhile, the two subsidiaries' production, sales and administrative operations will be gradually integrated in fiscal 2012, with the aim of completing the merger by next April.

Majority shareholder INCJ is investing JPY30 billion (USD386.4 million) in UniCarriers.