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| "The Mitsubishi Model-A", Japan's first mass-produced
and mass-marketed passenger vehicle |
Mitsubishi's automobile production history dates back to 1918.
This year marked the end of World War I, and major changes were taking place both
around the globe and in Japan. This was also the year that [Mitsubishi Corporation]
and [Mitsubishi Mining Co. Ltd.] were founded.
The "Mitsubishi Model-A" passenger vehicle was developed in 1918 at
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works. The Model A
was the first automobile produced by Mitsubishi, and this historical pioneering
spirit later served as the foundation for the birth of Fuso. |
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| 1932—First member of the Fuso bus series created—Mitsubishi
automobile history on the move |
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Since rolling out the Mitsubishi Model-A in 1918,
the company had been temporarily withdrawing from automobile production. However,
with the growth of domestically produced automobiles being promoted by the Ministry
of Railroads (subsequently Japan National Railways and currently Japan Railways)
as a backdrop, a prototype of the B46 bus was produced at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries'
Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works in May of 1932. The B46 bus would be the first
member of the Fuso bus series.
In February of the following year, four B46 buses and three BT38 bus tractors
were delivered to the Ministry of Railroads, making them the first Mitsubishi
vehicles to be utilized in ministry-operated bus lines.
Following the birth of the B46 large bus, automobile development accelerated at
Mitsubishi Fuso. In 1934, the BS43, with a wheelbase of 4,300 mm, and the BS40,
with a wheelbase of 4,000 mm, were created as medium-size luxury buses for the
general public. In the following year, Mitsubishi introduced the BD46 bus, which
was equipped with an 85 PS SHT6 pre-combustion diesel engine, the first diesel
bus produced by Mitsubishi in response to a national policy of oil resource conservation.
The BD43 bus was developed at the same time, by incorporating a 650AD direct injection
diesel engine into the BS43 bus. |
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The evolution of sightseeing buses began in 1933—diesel
buses and trucks produced during the unstable prewar period
Along with route buses, chartered sightseeing buses were becoming popular around
1931. In 1933, Mitsubishi Fuso developed a sightseeing bus in the Aomori Towada
area, that was built on a B46 chassis with a semi-decker body. However, Fuso buses
took on a much different appearance in the BS series that was developed in 1934.
The BS series were medium-size, streamlined buses developed for tourism.
The B46, which was originally designed with a box-shaped body, was also redesigned
to a slightly rounded body style with triangular windows in 1935.
When Manchuria (currently China's Dong Bei Province) was founded in 1934, automobiles
became an indispensable means of transportation over the immense expanse of land.
In addition, automobiles had to be able to withstand quite harsh traveling conditions.
Mitsubishi Fuso's buses and trucks were designed to handle such conditions.
The first vehicles exported to Manchuria were BD46 buses delivered to [South Manchuria
Railways] in 1936. From 1936 to 1937, five TD45 trucks and 15 buses equipped with
650ADc direct injection diesel engines were exported.
Later, the TD45 trucks were converted to CT20 trucks equipped with [Saurer] CT1D
engines.
By 1942, more than 200 Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles were being driven in Manchuria
and Taiwan, and the creation and development of these sophisticated vehicles became
the foundation of today's breakthrough accomplishments in Mitsubishi Fuso's trucks
and buses. |
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| Origin of the name "FUSO" and the
transition of its logo |
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The B46 bus was developed at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe
Shipyard & Machinery Works in May of 1932, and the first B46 bus purchase
was made by the Ministry of Railroads. A nickname for this bus was solicited within
the Shipyard and the name "FUSO" was selected. The prize for the winning
suggestion was 3 yen—at a time when 10 kg of rice cost 1.72 yen.
"FUSO"
is the name of a sacred tree which, the ancient Chinese used to say, grows in
the east where the sun rises. Therefore, it is another name for Japan. FUSO is
also generally known as a name of the hibiscus flower in Japanese. |
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