Mitsubishi Fuso Expanding Into International Markets with Hybrid Trucks

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today announced that it is expanding its business with hybrid trucks into international markets worldwide.

MFTBC now delivers on its first commercial orders for Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty trucks to customers in Ireland and Australia. In Europe, these will represent the first commercially sold series-production hybrid trucks by any manufacturer.

In addition, MFTBC announced it will begin regular sales of hybrid trucks in targeted export markets in 2010.

“Building on the success of the Canter Eco Hybrid in Japan, we at Mitsubishi Fuso are clearly pursuing opportunities worldwide,” said Dr. Albert Kirchmann, MFTBC President and CEO. “As the Global Hybrid Center of Daimler Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso is committed to developing and implementing clean hybrid commercial vehicles.”

MFTBC has marketed hybrid trucks in its home market Japan since July 2006, when the Canter Eco Hybrid was launched. To date, over 600 Canter Eco Hybrid trucks have been sold in Japan.  The Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck, featuring a parallel hybrid system, significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

While MFTBC has been running a fleet test of Canter Eco Hybrids in the United Kingdom, the new orders from Ireland and Australia represent the first commercial business outside Japan. Customers have placed orders for a total of 20 units: 10 units for Ireland and 10 for Australia. The trucks will serve a diverse group of industries, such as energy companies, package and food, express freight and beverage delivery.

Customers include Electricity Supply Board (ESB) based in Dublin, Ireland.
ESB, Ireland’s premiere electricity utility, will utilize the vehicles for customer service and infrastructure maintenance operations.

“Mitsubishi Fuso is proud to bring to global markets a vehicle with the low emissions, fuel efficiency and reliability of the Canter Eco Hybrid,” said Mr. Kai-Uwe Seidenfuss, MFTBC Vice President of Sales & Service International. “This is an important first step in our efforts to strengthen hybrid truck sales, and in 2010 we will further expand commercial sales of hybrid trucks into targeted markets outside Japan.”

These international hybrid orders add to key milestones in 2009 such as the launch of new, enhanced Canter Eco Hybrid model and the 1-year anniversary of the Global Hybrid Center, the worldwide hub for Daimler Trucks hybrid vehicle development.

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2008, the company sold a total of about 197,700 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 85% of MFTBC shares and various Mitsubishi group companies own 15% of MFTBC shares. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.