European series production of the remodeled eCanter begins in Tramagal, Portugal

• Mitsubishi Fuso has officially kicked off series production of the new eCanter truck at its subsidiary plant in Tramagal, Portugal
• 42 eCanter variants will be produced for European customers, alongside the diesel Canter
• The Tramagal Plant also celebrated a major milestone with the 250,000th FUSO truck rolling off the production line

Tramagal, Portugal / Kawasaki, Japan –  Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC; headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Karl Deppen) announces the start of series production for the remodeled all-electric eCanter truck at the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe-Sociedade Europeia de Automóveis, S.A (hereafter MFTE; headquarters: Tramagal, Portugal; President and CEO: Arne Barden) subsidiary plant in Portugal. A celebration of the major milestone took place on March 22^nd, with the Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, in attendance.

The eCanter was first launched in 2017 as the first electric light-duty truck in small-series production from Daimler Truck. Since then, over 550 units of the pioneering vehicle have been handed over to customers around the globe. The truck has been operating in Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, collectively covering over 8 million km of locally emissions-free urban transportation.

In September 2022, MFTBC unveiled the fully remodeled eCanter, which features an innovatively redesigned, more compact drivetrain configuration. The adoption of this new drivetrain has allowed MFTBC to offer greater variety in chassis, body types, and driving range. A total of 42 variants will be made available for European customers, and over 100 worldwide. Combined with an ecosystem of consulting services including cost analyses and charging infrastructure support, the flexibility of the product means that it is now easier than ever for customers to transition to e-mobility.

This major milestone follows the start of production of the eCanter for the Japanese market at the Kawasaki Plant, which took place in March 2023. Both the Tramagal Plant and the Kawasaki Plant underwent various adjustments to accommodate the wider variety of eCanter specifications into their existing light-duty production processes. All eCanter trucks bound for customers in Europe will be delivered out of the Tramagal site, while vehicles for markets slated for future launches, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Chile, will be exported out of Japan.

On May 22, 2023, MFTE also celebrated another major achievement, as the 250,000th unit of the light-duty Canter truck rolled off the line. The Tramagal Plant is a historic production site that has contributed to Portuguese industry since 1964. Five generations of the Canter have been produced onsite since the start of operations, supporting the European sales of Mitsubishi Fuso’s iconic truck over the decades.

As an integral part of Daimler Truck, Mitsubishi Fuso is committed to the ambition of tank-to-wheel CO2 neutrality for all new commercial vehicle sales in Europe and Japan by 2039. As the governments of key markets take on environmental goals targeting on-road emissions, FUSO eCanter will continue to play a vital role in the global trucking industry’s path to sustainable mobility.

(from right to left) The Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, the President and CEO of MFTBC,
Karl Deppen, and the President and CEO of MFTE, Arne Barden with the new eCanter

The remodeled eCanter for the European market

About the eCanter

The eCanter is the Japanese market’s first series-produced, all-electric truck developed by MFTBC as a solution to urban environmental issues such as noise, exhaust gas, and CO2 emissions. As the eCanter is locally emission-free with its electric motor and produces less noise and vibration compared to conventional diesel-powered vehicles, it is particularly suited to inner-city routes as well as operations during late night and early morning hours. After the launch of the first model in 2017, MFTBC released an improved model with enhanced safety equipment in August 2020. Since its launch, the truck has been chosen by customers in Japan, Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In March 2023, MFTBC opened orders for the fully remodeled eCanter with a significantly expanded number of variants to cater to diverse business needs. The new model is also scheduled to be rolled out in additional overseas markets.

MFTBC at a Glance

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, with 89.29% of its shares owned by Daimler Truck AG and 10.71% by various Mitsubishi group companies. An icon in the Japanese commercial vehicle industry with a longstanding history of over 90 years with its FUSO brand, MFTBC manufactures a range of commercial vehicles including light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses, and industrial engines for over 170 markets worldwide. In 2017, MFTBC introduced the eCanter, the first all-electric light-duty truck in series-production and in 2019, the Super Great – Japan’s first heavy-duty truck fitted with Level 2 Automated Driving Support Technology, a benchmark in the Japanese commercial vehicle market. MFTBC operates under the umbrella of Daimler Truck Asia, together with its partner organization Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) in India. This strategic unit allows the entities to collaborate on areas such as product development, parts sourcing and production to provide the best value to customers.

FUSO at a Glance

FUSO is a Daimler Truck brand, offering a range of commercial vehicles from light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks and buses, to industrial engines and connectivity solutions for over 170 markets worldwide. A longstanding landmark in Japan’s commercial vehicle landscape, the brand has leveraged Japanese quality and craftsmanship to set benchmarks in efficiency, safety, and comfort for 90 years. FUSO is particularly renowned for its offerings in the light-duty segment. The Canter light-duty truck claims the top market share in various markets around the world. In 2017 the eCanter became the first series produced all-electric light-duty truck in Japan, establishing FUSO as a pioneer in eMobility. FUSO promises customers a “Future Together,” a bold claim that continues to drive the brand’s contributions to safe and sustainable transport.