Realignment of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers and an integral part of Daimler Trucks, today announced a major realignment of its operations to address structural changes in the company’s business and markets.  Japan remains MFTBC’s most important market, but the Japanese commercial vehicle market is experiencing a long-term downward trend with growth potential shifting to developing economies. The realignment is intended to address these trends and strengthen the company’s operations for the mid- to long-term. Additional short-term actions are already implemented to address the ongoing global economic crisis.

Andreas Renschler, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and responsible for Daimler Trucks, said: “Daimler Trucks’ program of ‘Global Excellence’ calls for early and effective adjustments to market cycles. In this regard, Fuso has taken decisive steps to reduce costs and capacity to address the severe commercial vehicle market downturn over the past several months. Now we take further, more far-reaching measures to strengthen Fuso’s ability to deliver benchmark profitability in a rapidly transforming global commercial vehicle market.”

MFTBC Chairman Takao Suzuki said: “Within the realignment, all planned initiatives by Fuso together form a strong, mid-term plan for addressing the new realities of the global commercial vehicle market, increasing our competitiveness and continuing a spirit of partnership with our customers.”

Daimler Trucks has been using the Global Excellence program since 2005 to implement and support its strategic approach. The program concentrates on short-, medium-, and long-term goals that are based above all on boosting efficiency and making the most of economies of scale. Global Excellence encompasses four initiatives: Management of Market Cycles, Operational Excellence, Growth and Penetration of Markets and Future Product Generations and Technologies.

In response to the current severe downturn in global truck markets, MFTBC has already implemented numerous short-term steps to reduce costs and adapt capacity.

The company has reduced inventory levels by 45% since the fourth quarter of 2008 and decreased expenses by 20% in the first quarter of 2009. It has implemented temporary shut-downs of its plants and headquarters and minimized spending on non-product-related initiatives. Labor costs have also been reduced via base pay reductions for management and non-management levels, management bonus reductions, work-sharing initiatives including overtime reduction and the release of non-full-time employees.

Mid- To Long-Term Initiatives to Address Structural Market Changes

Now MFTBC will implement separate and comprehensive new measures to address structural market changes, including the higher growth expectations in international markets outside Japan. Over the past six years, the company’s international sales have grown from 52% (of volumes) in 2003 to 78% in 2008. With the higher relative international sales expected to continue and minimal long-term growth expected in the Japanese commercial vehicle market, the company will align its product portfolio, manufacturing network, dealer network and cost structure accordingly.

The realignment measures cover five key areas:

1. Streamlining Product Portfolio
MFTBC will focus on a core product line-up and profitable variants. The company will reduce the number of model variants by 50% and parts variants by 30% by the end of 2010. This will result in less complexity and cost in numerous functional areas.

At the same time, the company will maintain a high value product line with many attractive options for customers. Strong investment in new products will continue, including the development of a new light-duty truck.

2. Realignment of Manufacturing Operations
MFTBC will realign manufacturing operations for greater plant utilization and production closer to markets.

The company will consolidate bus production at the Toyama, Japan, plant, with the transfer of light bus production from the Oye plant to Toyama, by the end of the second quarter 2010. The Oye plant, located near Nagoya, Japan, will be closed.

Also in Japan, MFTBC will optimize operations at the main Kawasaki plant, concentrating assembly into one part of the plant and substantially improving Kawasaki’s inbound plant logistics and overall efficiency.

In Southeast Asia, MFTBC will close its Thailand plant by end of 2009, with integration of Thailand production into the company’s ASEAN production footprint. The plant, located in Lardkrabang in the Bangkok area, produces light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks for the Thailand market. MFTBC remains committed to the Thailand market, and will continue sales and after sales operations in Thailand.

MFTBC will streamline and strengthen its retail network in Japan to adjust capacity to a declining market and for better customer orientation according to the company’s “All for You” philosophy.

The company will reconfigure the network into a “hub-and-spoke set-up,” with main “hub” locations offering all services including new vehicle sales and service/parts, connected to satellite service/parts locations convenient for customers. This set-up will also result in a reduction of the overall number of outlets. In total, the new Japan sales set-up will strive for 25% efficiency improvement by various revenue and cost measures to counterbalance the declining market.

The network redesign will reflect customer geographic locations, as well as the service needs of fleet and individual customers. Therefore, the company will maintain and enhance service levels for customers through increased service productivity and other efficiency measures.

In international markets, MFTBC will strongly focus on growth in after sales. Specifically, the company plans to significantly increase its parts penetration in the international markets, based on market developments and dedicated measures.

4. Material Cost Optimization
MFTBC will leverage its position within the Daimler Trucks worldwide procurement organization for further economies of scale, and to better manage raw material price fluctuations in the future.

The company will also significantly increase global sourcing outside of Japan. Procurement strategies for upcoming new product lines and production shifts closer to markets will strongly contribute to this higher global sourcing share.

5. Fixed Cost Reduction
Related to the above business model changes and other efficiency improvements, MFTBC will reduce its overall fixed costs by 25%. The lower overhead base will enable greater profitability in down cycle markets and release more funds for investment in advanced product technologies.

As a result of the product portfolio streamlining, realignment of manufacturing sites, and streamlining of Japan retail network and other efficiency improvement measures, MFTBC’s global workforce will decrease by about 2,300 people (2000 indirect and 300 direct) by the end of 2010. This will be managed through age retirement, voluntary leaves, second career support and other measures. The company will take every step possible to ease the transition for affected employees.

Expected Annual Earnings Improvements of 100 billion yen (€ 760 million) by 2011 and Estimated Program Costs of 35 billion yen (€ 260 million) in total

MFTBC’s realignment initiatives comprise approximately 75% cost reductions and 25% revenue enhancements. Together, they are expected to improve annual earnings by 100 billion yen (€ 760 million) by 2011 with estimated program costs of 35 billion yen (€ 260 million) in total in 2009 and 2010.

Andreas Renschler added, “These realignment initiatives are in line with all aspects of Global Excellence and will strengthen Fuso’s ability to fulfill its key role as the group’s Asia pillar, light-duty truck competence center and leader in hybrid technology development.”

Current MFTBC President & CEO Harald Boelstler said:  “Fuso has made significant progress in reestablishing a strong market position in Japan, expanding international business, modernizing its business systems and achieving a high level of integration with Daimler Trucks. This realignment starts a new phase in which our operations are closely aligned with fundamental changes in our business.”

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. 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.