FUSO’s all-electric light duty eCanter truck introduced to Chile, marking the first South American market launch

• Chile to be the first South American market to receive the new eCanter truck
• Start of sales scheduled later this year
• Chile is one of the largest overseas markets for the FUSO brand in South America, second only to Peru

Santiago, Chile / Kawasaki, Japan -  Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC; headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Karl Deppen) is pleased to announce that the all-electric eCanter truck will begin sales in the Chilean market later this year. The vehicle was unveiled for the first time to domestic customers at an event on August 17^th.

The remodeled eCanter, which was first presented to the public at the September 2022 world premiere in Japan, is now making its way to one of FUSO’s largest markets in South America. The vehicle will be available in 5 variants, ranging from 6.5 to 8.55 tonnes in GVW, with various body applications to match diverse business needs. Three battery sizes will offer a driving range up to 200 km on one charge. The eCanter for Chile will also come with advanced features such as Active Brake Assist 5 (ABA5) and Active Sideguard Assist, for peace of mind on the road.

Fully built (CBU) FUSO trucks and buses have been distributed throughout Chile by Comercial Kaufmann S.A. and its own dealer network since 2011. The light-duty Canter truck maintains a strong presence within the market, at a share of 18% of the light-duty segment.* With the introduction of the eCanter, Kaufmann and MFTBC aim to maintain the FUSO brand’s strengths through the coming e-mobility era. In recent years, Chile has been on the forefront of the shift to sustainable transportation. Through its National Electricmobility Strategy, Chile has set forth the target of transitioning all newly sold products for road freight transport to 100% ZEV by the year 2045. With the steadily increasing number of public access charging points and tax incentives for electric vehicles, uptake of the eCanter is expected to grow in the future.
*as of December 2022

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.