Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe’s plant in Tramagal sets sights on becoming a climate positive facility from 2040

• MFTBC’s subsidiary plant in Tramagal, Portugal aims to transform into a climate positive facility from 2040 onwards.
• Plant operations are already CO2-neutral on the balance sheet as of the end of 2022, through on-site green electricty generation and other measures.

Tramagal, Portugal/Kawasaki, Japan — Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President and CEO: Karl Deppen, hereafter “MFTBC”) announces that Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe-Sociedade Europeia de Automóveis, S.A (MFTE; headquarters: Tramagal, President and CEO: Arne Barden), MFTBC’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Portugal is setting its sights on becoming a climate positive[1] production location from the year 2040 onwards. This ambition follows the achievement of CO₂-neutrality on the balance sheet in 2022.
[1] Contributing to the reduction of more CO2 emissions in the atmosphere than emitted by plant operations

MFTE, which has been producing FUSO vehicles for over four decades, is manufacturing the light-duty Canter and all-electric eCanter trucks for the European market in Tramagal, Portugal. Since the end of 2022, MFTE’s plant in Tramagal has been CO₂-neutral on the balance sheet in its activities. Measures contributing to this achievement have so far included: contracting green electricity, installing over 1,200 solar panels for local energy generation, equipment-level energy efficiency monitoring, adjustments in the painting process on the production line and changing the internal fleet to all-electric eCanter trucks. In the future, MFTE plans to increase solar power production, and develop means of gradually decreasing its reliance on natural gas by replacing it with green hydrogen produced onsite. With these additional initiatives, the plant is targeting climate positive production from 2040 onwards.

The sustainability measures at MFTE are part of a larger effort within the parent organization Daimler Truck AG, which has realized CO₂-neutrality on the balance sheet in its production plants in Europe in the year 2022. At MFTBC’s Kawasaki Plant in Japan, a commitment to further reducing the environmental impact of vehicle production is in place, involving the installation of solar panels and the use of renewable energy.

Changes in the production area further complement the FUSO product line’s transition to zero-emission technology; MFTE has kicked off large-scale series production for the European-market models of the new eCanter. The Tramagal plant is now set to provide the fully remodeled all-electric light-duty truck to customers in over 30 countries, contributing further to Daimler Truck’s ambition that its new trucks and buses are to be CO₂-neutral on the road in Europe, the US and Japan by 2039.

The Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe plant in Tramagal, Portugal

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. Since its launch, the truck has been used by customers in Japan, Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In September 2022, MFTBC unveiled a fully remodeled version of the product that will be rolled out in additional overseas markets.

Daimler Truck Asia at a Glance

Daimler Truck Asia (DTA), under Daimler Truck AG, is an organizational unit that jointly operates Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) – an icon in the Japanese commercial vehicle industry with 90 years of history with its FUSO brand – and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), an up and rising challenger in the Indian market. DTA adopts a strategic business model that allows its group entities to collaborate on product development, production, exports, sourcing and research activity to provide innovative, cutting-edge and best value products to customers. DTA’s vision is “to develop mobility solutions to embrace a better life for people and the planet,” and is aligned with Daimler Truck’s purpose, “For all who keep the world moving.”

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 over the decades. 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.