EV focus at Daimler’s new Fuso centre

Electric vehicle technology and development is a strong focus at Daimler Trucks’ new product and design centre for subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation at Japan’s Kawasaki Plant.

Daimler has invested around 74 million euros into the building, known as Campus Plus.

The new 10,000 square metre site is part of the corporate headquarters, research and development and design functions of the company, and is part of a large-scale modernisation initiative for Fuso.

The design centre is one of the most advanced within Daimler AG and includes around 50 experts in the field working on major projects for all future Fuso vehicles.

The team is working on the next Canter and eCanter generation as well as other aspects of electric commercial vehicles.

Daimler AG Trucks & Buses board member Martin Daum says Fuso is an “essential and successful member of Daimler Trucks” and strong investment in the brand will continue.

“In 2018, it contributed about one-third of total sales and plays a vital role when it comes to future topics such as electric driving,” he says.

Daimler Trucks Asia will also invest an additional 40 million euros in the Fuso retail network in 2019.

It’s part of a seven year initiative named Project Mirai (Japanese for ‘future’) to improve the brand’s retail and service network and to tackle new trends and developments in the commercial vehicle sector.

Seven outlets across Japan, from Hokkaido to Tokyo to Kyushu, are set to be refurbished with a focus on electric and connected commercial vehicles from a service perspective.

Daimler Trucks Asia boss Hartmut Schick says the goal is to have Fuso as the “number one in customer service in the Japanese commercial vehicles industry”.

“With upgraded facilities, we will be able to offer faster, better service to our customers across Japan.”