In 2010, Fuso sold 48.5
percent more Canter trucks in Europe than in the previous
year
Sales success largely due to
high demand for advanced, Euro 5-compliant EEVs
Stuttgart - At 1,325 units, sales
at Fuso in Europe were 31 percent higher in the first quarter
than in the same period last year. In 2010 as a whole, the
company sold about 5,900 trucks in Europe, an increase of 48.5
percent on the previous year.
In 2010, Germany was the company’s
main European sales market for the first time, with sales rising
by approximately 30 percent to around 1,100 units. In addition,
Fuso posted substantial sales increases in its other core
European markets of France, Italy, and the UK.
“The latest sales results confirm
the Fuso Canter’s growing popularity on the European market,”
says Alexander Müller, Head of Sales & Marketing Mitsubishi Fuso
Truck Europe. “The Fuso Canter is manufactured in Portugal with
a local sourcing rate of over 70 percent. In view of the events
in Japan, we of course have to reassess the availability of
vehicle parts every day, but so far we don’t expect to suffer
from any supply bottlenecks.”
Fuso managed to gain market share
in Europe, primarily due to the great demand for the new Euro
5-compliant Canter fitted with EEV exhaust gas treatment
technology, which is now standard equipment in the light truck.
As a result, the Canter’s market share of Europe’s light truck
segment rose to 14.4 percent in 2010. This was the highest level
ever reached in the vehicle’s history and represented an
increase of one percentage point on the figure for the previous
year.
The first Fuso Canter to be
produced in Europe rolled off the assembly line in Tramagal,
Portugal, back in 1980. The Canter is now in its seventh
generation. Located 150 kilometers northeast of Lisbon, the
plant in Tramagal was originally opened in 1964 by a
Portuguese-French joint venture for the production of vehicles
for the Portuguese army. The plant has been owned by Daimler
Trucks since 2003.
