•	Continuing Hybrid Offensive Under “Leader in Green Innovation”
•	Proof of Green Leadership for Entire Canter Light-Duty Truck Range

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today announced that its all-new Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck has been awarded the “Irish Green Commercial of the Year 2013” at the eighth annual Fleet Transport Awards Gala Dinner, held at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, Ireland. This award, on top of the already-crowned prestigious “RJC Car of the Year Special Awards,” one of the most well-known automotive awards in Japan, provides a very strong endorsement for the entire Canter light-duty truck range. MFTBC is the first commercial vehicle manufacturer ever to win the RJC awards.

Established to honor excellence in the Irish Road Transport and Haulage Industry, over 700 representatives from the road transport and related industries attended the awards ceremony. The award was adjudicated by four judges from a variety of backgrounds with the judging process employed for the International Truck of the Year awards also used – 12 criteria with a maximum of 7 points awarded for each criteria, which include: efficiency, performance, flexibility, driving comfort and cabin layout. In the end, the Canter Eco Hybrid saw off tough shortlisted competition from the MAN TGL Hybrid and the Renault Premium Hybrid to secure this prestigious title.

“The new Canter Eco Hybrid is the most economical and environmentally friendly truck on the market,” said Mr. Gustav Tuschen, MFTBC Senior Vice President of Product Engineering. “Its fuel efficiency is maximized with the newly developed hybrid system in combination with the revolutionary DUONIC® automated dual-clutch transmission and brings superb benefit to our customers in terms of total cost of ownership. We are honored to have won this prestigious award which underlines those credentials."

The Canter Eco Hybrid was also a key feature of Fleet Transport EXPO 12, Ireland’s first ever Commercial Vehicle, Transport and Logistics Industry showcase. The innovative truck attracted considerable attention and praise from a variety of companies looking for a transport solution which provides maximum economy and efficiency without business compromise.

Today’s achievement represents 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 to significantly increase its sales volume to over 200,000 units annually.

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.