•	For Fuso: Proof of Commitment to FUSO 2015 “Leader in Green Innovation”
•	World’s First Innovation on Commercial Truck: Bringing Overall Benefit to Customers in Terms of Total Cost of Ownership and Vehicle Drivability

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today announced its DUONIC® dual-clutch transmission received the “Technological Development Award” in the 62nd Automotive Technology Awards given by the Japan Society of Automotive Engineers (JSAE).

“We are honored to have received this prestigious award,” said Dr. Albert Kirchmann, MFTBC President and CEO. “While this award represents a key milestone under ‘FUSO 2015’, our company’s 5-pillar growth strategy for the future, we are committed to further enhancing our leadership position in this field of green innovation. ‘Leader in Green Innovation’: for our customers, for society, and for our planet.”

According to Mr. Gustav Tuschen, MFTBC Vice President of Product Engineering, the DUONIC® dual-clutch transmission is the first automated dual-clutch type manual transmission incorporated on a commercial truck in the world. “We definitely continue our offensive in advanced propulsion systems like hybrid and electric. But our core focus is optimization of conventional diesel engines and transmissions which are the foundation of such technologies. And here, Fuso is clearly ahead and strongly committed to extending its leadership, which will overall benefit our customers in terms of total cost of ownership.”

DUONIC® wet-type clutch that does not need regular clutch replacement, eliminating the need of replacement due to wear of clutch disc and avoids frequent or extra maintenance costs. In addition to this, the advanced transmission earns great reputation because of its great fuel efficiency and easy driving like passenger car. Even the most advanced trucks are driven by people. Thus, DUONIC® helps reduce drivers’ workload and stress, so they can fully focus on driving.

The key feature of the DUONIC® is smooth, seamless shifting without shock and torque interruption. Combined with the easy 2-pedal driving, this feature will release drivers from stress and let them fully focus on driving. Shock-less driving also leads to better stability of cargo. The DUONIC® gear change control adopts the fuzzy control Fuso has nurtured over many years. As the DUONIC® is coupled with the wet-type clutch system, the drivers can move the truck very slowly without control of acceleration pedal (creep).

Mr. Mitsuyoshi Miyasaka	Manager	AMT Testing	MFTBC
Mr. Morikazu Ono	Manager	Powertrain Testing	MFTBC
Mr. Atsushi Kumazawa		Powertrain Electronic System Design	MFTBC
Mr. Osamu Ogi		Drivetrain Design	MFTBC

The award received today represent a key milestone in achieving “FUSO 2015,” the company’s five-pillar growth strategy for the future introduced in October 2011. One of the five pillars is “Leader in Green Innovation,” meaning the company focuses on advances in Green Products, Green Factory and Infrastructure and Green Supply Chain to achieve an aggregate CO₂ reduction of 7.5% by 2015.

The company plans to further enhance its fuel efficiency leadership position in conventionally-powered diesel vehicles, while pushing forward with advanced technologies like hybrid-electric and all-electric vehicles.

The 5 pillars under FUSO 2015, the company’s holistic improvement program aimed to increase operational excellence in all aspects, are: ‘Leader in Green Innovation,’ ‘Profitable Global Player,’ ‘Efficiency Leader,’ ‘Customer Number One in Japan,’ and ‘Employer Number One.’ Through FUSO 2015, the company aims for significant increase in global sales, including an overall target to double international sales volume to over 200,000 units annually.

JSAE is the academic organization founded in 1947 to "promote scientific culture, expand the industrial economy, and improve the quality of people's lives by furthering the development of automobile science and technology."

Automotive Technology Awards were established in 1951 to encourage development and improvement of automotive technologies and there are six awards: the Asahara Science Award, the Asahara Award of Merit in Technology, the Outstanding Technical Paper Award, the Technological Development Award, the Scientific Contribution Award and the Technological Contribution Award.

The Technological Development Award is presented to researchers and engineers who have developed new products or new technologies which contribute to development of automotive technology.

The awards ceremony will be held at the “Automotive Engineers Spring Convention” on Thursday, May 24, 2012.

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2011, the company sold a total of about 147,700 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 89.29% of MFTBC shares and various Mitsubishi group companies own 10.71% of MFTBC shares. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.