Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
三菱ふそうトラック・バス株式会社
KK
Industry Automobile manufacturing
Founded 1932
Headquarters 890-12, Kashimada, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, 212-0058 Japan
Key people
 Dr. Albert Kirchmann (Chairman)
Marc Llistosella (President & CEO)
Products Buses and Trucks
Revenue $7.6 billion (2010)
Owner Daimler AG (89.29%)
Mitsubishi (10.71%)
Number of employees
 18,200 (Consolidated)
Subsidiaries Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc.
Website mitsubishi-fuso.com
Fuso in Hong Kong 2013

The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (Japanese: 三菱ふそうトラック・バス株式会社 Hepburn: Mitsubishi Fusō Torakku・Basu Kabushiki gaisha) is a German-owned, Japanese-based manufacturer of trucks and buses. It is headquartered in Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan. It is one of the world's largest truck manufacturers. Daimler AG of Germany owns approximately 89.29% of Mitsubishi Fuso; Mitsubishi Fuso is a member of the Daimler Trucks division of Daimler AG.[1]

The name Fuso translates to hibiscus, an ancient name for Japan used by the Chinese; This was the name for the company's first product in 1932.

History

In 1932, the first B46 bus was built and named Fuso at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.'s Kobe Works. In 1934, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. was renamed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (MHI). In 1937, the MHI motor vehicle operations at Kobe Works were transferred to Tokyo Works. In 1949, Fuso Motors Sales Co., Ltd. was established. It was renamed Mitsubishi Fuso Motors Sales Co., Ltd. in 1952.

In 1950, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was split into three separate companies: East Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd., Central Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. and West Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. In 1952, Central Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. was renamed Shin Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., West Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. was renamed Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., and East Japan Heavy Industries, Ltd. was renamed Mitsubishi Nippon Heavy Industries, Ltd (MNHI). Products from each of these companies were distributed by Mitsubishi Fuso Motor Sales Ltd. because of that brand's name recognition.

In 1957, MNHI integrated Tokyo and Kawasaki Works into the Tokyo Motor Vehicle Works. In 1964, Mitsubishi Nippon Heavy Industries, Ltd., Shin Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd. merged to form Mitsubishi Fuso Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Mitsubishi Fuso Motors Sales split to form two divisions, Shin and Fuso Motors Sales Co. They agreed on one icon and split the distribution of heavy and light machinery. Shin distributed light machinery branded as Mitsubishi, and Fuso distributed heavy machinery branded as Fuso. In 1970, MHI signed a joint venture agreement with Chrysler Corporation, establishing Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC). MHI transferred motor vehicle operations to the newly formed MMC.

In 1975, MMC commissioned the Nakatsu Plant at its Tokyo Motor Vehicle Works. In 1980, MMC commissioned the Kitsuregawa Proving Grounds. In 1984, MMC merged with Mitsubishi Motor Sales Co., Ltd.

In 1985, MMC and Mitsubishi Corporation established the joint-equity company Mitsubishi Trucks of America, Inc. in the United States. In 1993, MMC and Chrysler Corporation dissolved their equity partnership.

In 1994, MMC and Mitsuibishi joined to design, build, and distribute a vehicle they deemed an "Evolution Design". At this time, the brand Mitsuibishi become Mitsubishi, dropping the second "I". This evolution cars were named Mitsubishi LANCER.

In 1999, MMC and AB Volvo entered an equity and operational alliance consisting of truck and bus operations; AB Volvo acquired 5% of MMC stock. In 2001, DaimlerChrysler replaced AB Volvo as MMC's strategic alliance partner in the truck and bus sector, and MMC renamed the Tokyo Plant the Truck and Bus Production Office (referred to externally as the Kawasaki Plant).

In 2003, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) was established. DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and other Mitsubishi group companies acquired equity stakes of 43%, 42% and 15% respectively in MFTBC. In 2005, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation transferred its MFTBC shares to DaimlerChrysler as part of their compensation agreement for financial damages resulting from quality issues and recalls at MFTBC. DaimlerChrylser and Mitsubishi group companies currently hold shares of 89% and 11% respectively. In 2006, MFTBC relocated their headquarters from Tokyo to Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa. In 2007, DaimlerChrysler sold a majority stake of Chrysler Corporation to Cerberus Capital Management. The corporation was renamed Daimler AG and subsequently, the former DaimlerChrysler Truck Group was renamed Daimler Trucks. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.

Facilities

Fuso trucks are developed and built primarily in Japan, at the the following facilities:

Fuso FJ rigid truck, made in India, at the International Motor Show 2014 in Hanover, Germany

Mitsubishi Fuso Canter work trucks are manufactured Egypt, Portugal, The Philippines, Venezuela, Turkey, and Russia. They are marketed in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand,Indonesia and a number of other Asian countries, as well as the United States

Fuso trucks are manufactured in India at the DICV plant in Oragadam near Chennai. Those vehicles are sold in export markets in East Africa and Southeast Asia.[3]

The European Marketing & Sales Headquarters of Mitsubishi Fuso is located in Stuttgart, Germany.

Products

Fuso Super Great

Domestic Japan

Truck

Bus

A Fuso Aero King is operated by Nishinihon JR Bus Co., in Japan.

Outside Japan

Truck

Fuso FK fire engine

Bus

A Fuso RM bus is operated by Kamalan Bus Inc. in Taiwan.
A Fuso RP118 bus is operated by BMTA in Thailand.

Others

Transport electrification

The Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Star Eco Hybrid (diesel-electric bus) is now in trials in Japan. According to the company, it can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent.[5] The Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Star Eco Hybrid operates with a series hybrid drive, in which the diesel engine does not drive wheels directly but instead is used solely to drive an electrical generator to recharge lithium-ion batteries,[6] connected to the two electric motors (with a combined output of 158 kW), which propel the vehicle.[1]

Daimler Trucks uses such a system for most of its full-hybrid commercial vehicles, including in the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter Eco Hybrid, while series hybrids are reserved for urban buses, where they work most efficiently.[6]

Global distribution

Outside Japan, vehicles manufactured by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation are sold in:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Mitsubishi Fuso Plant
  3. 1 2 Daimler Trucks Operations in Asia Premieres FUSO FJ Fuso Press release, September 24, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ghabbour Auto". Ghabbour Auto. 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  5. ↑ Archived November 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. 1 2 Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.

External links

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