The Japanese Daimler subsidiary, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation is presenting itself at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show under the motto “Building Together”. True to this motto, the two commercial vehicle subsidiaries MFTBC and DICV are bundling their Asian business under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia with a view to generating further sales growth in Asia and Africa. To this end, Daimler Trucks Asia will invest 300 million euro in the international sales and production structures on schedule in the period from 2014 to 2018. By the year 2020, around 290,000 units of the FUSO and BharatBenz brand are to be sold worldwide.
Dr Albert Kirchmann, Head of Daimler Trucks Asia and MFTBC President & CEO, said on the occasion of the Tokyo Motor Show: “With the investments, we areexpanding our existing sales and production network in order to take advantage of future sales potential in Asia and Africa.” Dr. Kirchmann added: “Thus, we are investing in the future of a strong team from two cultures. I am proud of the team from Japan and India, which is working together hard in order to bring the right products for the future markets on the road.”
The starting shot for the production of new FUSO truck models was sounded at Daimler India Commercial Vehicles in May of this year. Until 2014, these vehicles will be rolled out successively in 15 selected export markets – Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, the Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Uganda. The market launch in further export countries is being examined.
The markets of Southeast Asia have a significant market potential for the long term. According to external forecasts, annual truck sales for the entire region of Southeast Asia are expected to grow by about 20 to 30 percent until 2020. In the same period, the truck market on the African continent promises to grow by five to ten percent per year.
Trade fair debut of new FUSO “FI” truck from DICV production
Currently, the new medium-duty FUSO “FI” truck is celebrating its trade fair debut before an international audience at the 43rd Motor Show in Japan. The vehicle, which is one of a total of five FUSO truck models from the production of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, is tailored to customers in the growth markets.
Further FUSO product highlights at the Tokyo Motor Show
The trade fair debut of the new “FI” was reinforced by additional highlights from FUSO’s product range, which included four concept studies: the FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid “Canna” developed by and for women, the luxury coach FUSO Aero Queen “Premium Cruiser”, the repairs vehicle FUSO Canter Eco Hybrid “Moving Pit” and the heavy-duty truck FUSO Super Great “Fuel Efficient Truck”. In addition, the chrome-plated special model “Black Chrome” of the medium-duty dump truck FUSO Fighter was also showcased at the Motor Show.
The first generation of the FUSO Canter truck came on the market in the year 1963. Fifty years and eight generations later, in March of this year, the light-duty truck celebrated its golden anniversary and sales of more than 3.7 million units worldwide. For the occasion of the anniversary year, a restored second generation “T90” model from the year 1970 was exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show.
