German Transport Minister Tiefensee Visits
Mitsubishi Fuso’s Global Hybrid Center

Kawasaki  – Mr. Wolfgang Tiefensee, Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, today visited the Global Hybrid Center of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC). Minister Tiefensee came to the Center for a view of the latest, advanced hybrid commercial vehicle technologies, and to observe Japan-Germany cooperation in this important innovation area. MFTBC, one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.

Opened in August 2008, the Global Hybrid Center is the worldwide hub for Daimler Trucks hybrid development. Located within MFTBC’s R&D facilities here, the Center’s role is to synchronize Daimler Trucks hybrid development activities on a global basis. All of Daimler Trucks hybrid activities are aligned under the Center, including regional hybrid personnel at Daimler Trucks divisions MFTBC, Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Daimler Trucks North America LLC.

During his visit, the Minister toured the Center and met with MFTBC executives including Chairman Mr. Keisuke Egashira and Vice President of Product Engineering Dr. Eike Boehm. He also toured MFTBC’s Kawasaki Plant, where the company’s hybrid trucks are built. In addition, the Minister took a test-ride in the Canter Eco Hybrid, Mitsubishi Fuso’s light-duty hybrid commercial truck.

“Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation was honored to host Minister Tiefensee for a tour of the Global Hybrid Center and to test the Canter Eco Hybrid truck,” said Mr. Egashira. “Germany’s Transport Ministry is keenly interested in climate protection and mobility issues, so we were pleased to provide insight into Daimler Trucks’ global activities in hybrids, and to demonstrate Mitsubishi Fuso’s hybrid vehicles already on the road. We believe the Global Hybrid Center is also a showcase of Japan-Germany cooperation in a key technology field, which will only further grow in importance.”

Mitsubishi Fuso has been developing hybrid vehicles for over 10 years. Currently, the company offers the Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck and the Aero Star Eco Hybrid bus for the Japan market. Both vehicles offer high fuel efficiency with extremely low emissions. The company has also developed the Canter Eco-D, a concept hybrid light-duty dump truck.

In addition, Mitsubishi Fuso in Europe has now presented ten Canter Eco Hybrids to eight customers in London. Over the next three years, the company will examine the use of the 7.5-ton hybrid trucks by customers and demonstrate the diesel-electric hybrid drive's high level of efficiency. The vehicles in the test could consume up to 15 percent less fuel than conventional diesel vehicles, and also significantly reduce CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, Mitsubishi Fuso continues to raise awareness of hybrid technology benefits during numerous exhibitions around the world. The company has displayed hybrid vehicles in China, Indonesia, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. In addition, the company furnished an Aero Star Eco Hybrid bus for use in shuttle transportation during the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Japan, July 7-9, 2008.

Mr. Wolfgang Tiefensee has been Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs since November 22, 2005. Prior to that, he had served as the Mayor of Leipzig, Germany since July 1, 1998, and has held numerous positions in city government. A trained industrial electronics engineer, he was born in 1955 in Gera, in (then) East Germany.

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2007, the company sold a total of about 188,700 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 85% of MFTBC shares. The remaining 15% of shares are held by various Mitsubishi group companies. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.