MFTBC increased sales by 39.9 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period of last year. The commercial vehicle manufacturer, which is part of Daimler Trucks, sold a total of 61,569 trucks and buses, of which 50,117 vehicles were sold outside the company’s home market of Japan. International sales improved by 58.9 percent compared to the first half of 2009.
“Thanks to improved global market conditions and our strong presence in numerous growth markets, Mitsubishi Fuso achieved significant sales increases in the first half of 2010,” said Dr. Albert Kirchmann, President and CEO of MFTBC, about the rise in sales. “We clearly see a commercial vehicle sales recovery under way, and we plan to build further market momentum in the second half of the year by continuing a product offensive that is bringing more than 25 new products or product improvements to global markets in 2010.”
MFTBC posted a particularly sharp sales increase of almost 75 percent in Southeast Asia, the company’s largest export market, where it leads the market. MFTBC sold approximately 24,000 units in Indonesia alone, with sales increasing by about 90 percent compared to the first half of last year. Sales were up slightly to 5,800 units in MFTBC’s second-largest export market, the Middle East, and rose by about 38 percent to almost 4,000 vehicles in Africa.
Fuso Europe boosts sales by 55 percent in first half of 2010
In Europe demand grew noticeably for the Fuso Canter light truck, which has a Euro 5-compliant engine and meets the Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) standard. As a result, Fuso Europe increased sales by 55 percent in the first half of 2010, selling more than 2,700 Fuso Canter trucks in all. The sales figures show that the new Canter, which fulfills Europe’s toughest environmental standards, Euro 5 and EEV, is very popular with customers.
The series-produced Fuso Canter light trucks delivered since spring comply with the EEV emissions standard. EEV limits for particulate emissions are 30 percent lower than those of Euro 5. Despite this stricter limit, the EEV standard does not increase the Canter’s fuel consumption compared to Euro 5. EEV compliance is particularly important for vehicle fleets and municipalities, which sometimes demand in their calls for bids that automobiles meet this voluntary standard.
The Fuso Canter for the European market is manufactured at the plant in Tramagal, Portugal, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in February. First produced in Japan in 1963 and in Europe in 1980, the Fuso Canter is now in its seventh generation. It is the best-selling Daimler truck to date. The Fuso Canter supplements Daimler Trucks’ product range in the light truck segment in Europe. Fuso Canters from Tramagal are now on the road in more than 30 countries throughout Europe. The main sales markets are Germany, France, the UK, and Portugal.
Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2009 the company sold a total of about 100,000 vehicles, including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 85 percent of MFTBC shares. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks division of Daimler AG.
