•	Two-day media test-drive event covering more than 250 km in western part of Japan on highway, mountain and city roads
•	An outstanding13.6 km/l (7.35 l/100 km) fuel efficiency marked on city roads
•	Canter Celebrating its 50th Anniversary

Kawasaki - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, today announced that its latest Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck has once again proven its world-champion fuel-efficiency marking an outstanding 13.6 km/l (7.35 l/100 km) fuel efficiency during a 2-day media test-drive event on June 13-14, 2013, covering more than 250 km of highway, mountain and city roads in the western part of Japan.

Through the 250 km test-drive conducted by 5 product magazine journalists, the Canter Eco Hybrid set an overall average fuel efficiency of 12.08 km/l (8.27 l/100 km) with the highest team average at 12.9 km/l (7.75 l/100 km). Journalists were asked to drive on highway and mountain roads on the first day and through city roads on the second.

Mr. Genichiro Ishii, MFTBC Director and Head of Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center, said: “The average fuel efficiency marked between 11.5-12.9 km/l proves that our latest innovation out from Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center does not make the driver accountable for getting ‘more mileage with less diesel.’ That is exactly what the Canter Eco Hybrid is aimed to deliver – the best possible solutions for the benefit of our customers through lower total cost of ownership and higher overall performance including environmental efficiency.”

The latest Canter Eco Hybrid is the most economical, environmentally friendly and commercially viable vehicles on the market which brings superb benefit to customers in terms of total cost of ownership. This latest innovation of Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center located within MFTBC in Kawasaki, Japan, has already received numerous prestigious awards including the Irish Green Commercial of the Year (Ireland), the 2013 RJC Car of the Year Special Award (Japan, won for first time in history for any commercial vehicles), the Kanagawa Global Warming Prevention Award (Japan) and the Best Energy Efficient Product Award (Ireland).

The first generation Canter Eco Hybrid, a hybrid diesel-electric light-duty truck, first went on sale in Japan in July 2006, with export to selected international markets beginning in 2009. The second generation Canter Eco Hybrid was introduced in Japan in May 2012 and continuing its international roll-out following launches in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan. Incorporating world’s first innovation, a combination of a dual-clutch transmission, DUONIC®, with a hybrid motor, the Canter Eco Hybrid achieves world champion fuel efficiency, making it the first hybrid truck to pay off economically. Now produced in 2 locations in Kawasaki, Japan, and Tramagal, Portugal, more than 2,000 Canter Eco Hybrid trucks have been produced to date.

•	World-champion fuel efficiency: The new Canter Eco Hybrid has received numerous prestigious awards
•	Industry-leading clean emissions: The environment will benefit from a reduction in CO2 emissions of several tons and significantly lower noise levels
•	World’s first dual-clutch transmission, DUONIC®, with built-in hybrid motor
•	Smooth and seamless gear change without shock or torque interruption
•	High power motor with a maximum output of 40 kW (200 Nm)
•	Technology supporting the overall truck to achieve even more CO2 reduction and fuel efficiency

The first generation of the FUSO Canter light-duty truck came onto the market in March 1963. 50 years and eight generations later, we are proud to celebrate the truck as a bestseller, with global sales of 3,700,000 units since that original market launch in its home market of Japan. The light-duty FUSO Canter truck is the flagship model of the Daimler, and much in demand from customers around the world. For the European market, the Canter has been produced since 1980 in Tramagal, Portugal, and continues to enjoy increasing popularity throughout Europe.

Today’s achievement represents a key milestone in achieving “FUSO 2015,” the company’s five-pillar growth strategy for the future introduced in October 2011. One of the five pillars is “Leader in Green Innovation,” meaning the company focuses on advances in Green Products, Green Factory and Infrastructure and Green Supply Chain to achieve an aggregate CO₂ reduction of 7.5% by 2015.

The company plans to further enhance its fuel efficiency leadership position in conventionally-powered diesel vehicles, while pushing forward with advanced technologies like hybrid-electric and all-electric vehicles.

The 5 pillars under FUSO 2015, the company’s holistic improvement program aimed to increase operational excellence in all aspects, are: ‘Leader in Green Innovation,’ ‘Profitable Global Player,’ ‘Efficiency Leader,’ ‘Customer Number One in Japan,’ and ‘Employer Number One.’ Through FUSO 2015, the company aims to significantly increase its international sales while ensuring a strong home base in Japan and Asia.

Based in Kawasaki, Japan, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is one of Asia's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. In 2012, the company sold a total of about 174,000 vehicles including light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses. Daimler AG owns 89.29% of MFTBC shares and various Mitsubishi group companies own 10.71% of MFTBC shares. MFTBC is an integral part of the Daimler Trucks Division of Daimler AG.