Mitsubishi Fuso boss visits NZ

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation president and chief executive Marc Llistosella has touched down in New Zealand.

Llistosella spoke to industry leaders at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday ahead of his resignation from the world’s largest truck maker Daimler AG.

He is stepping down from his role in March with Hartmut Schick taking over for the business in Asia on April 1.

Llistosella joined the Daimler Benz Auto Group in 1994 and has held a number of roles within the organisation.

He has been in his current position since April, 2015 and was responsible for the worldwide Fuso business and the launch of e-Fuso, among the first global brands for electric trucks and buses.

Llistosella says one of his personal highlights was establishing Daimler India Commercial Vehicles as a world-class manufacturing and testing facility in Chennai.

It was an adventure that involved relocating his family while he led the development of the site “from scratch”.

Electrification, connectivity and autonomous technology are among the major trends facing the industry right now and there are many challenges ahead.

“This is why the industry is so interesting,” he says.

Growing urbanisation around the world is also a factor pushing these trends and the company’s electric eCanter model is meeting customer demands in this regard, he says.

Daimler Trucks and Buses board of management member Martin Daum says Llistosella has contributed to many important milestones for the company.

“We thank him for his great commitment and wish him all the best for the future,” he says.