Mitsubishi Fuso is celebrating a milestone in Australia with the sale of the 50,000th Fuso Canter light-duty truck.
The Australian freight and logistics company StarTrack, acquired the 50,000 vehicle. StarTrack’s fleet includes over 3000 trucks already, half of which are Canter and Fighter. In January this year, StarTrack ordered 185 new Fusos in a single order.
Richard Eyre, general manager Fuso trucks and buses Australia, says: “In the first half of 2013, we have grown our market share in light-duty trucks to 25% of the segment. This dominant position attests to the deep trust that our customers place in the Fuso brand.”
The first generation of the Fuso Canter truck was launched in March 1963. Fifty years and eight generations later, Mitsubishi Motors in Australia is celebrating the truck as an all-time hit with global sales of over 3,700,000 units since its Japanese home market launch.
Within an Australian 40-year sales history, the Canter has become a trusted and popular light truck, and is now in its eighth generation on the Australian continent.
Warren Brown, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand general manager says: “The Canter is an extremely iconic truck in New Zealand also.
“For decades it has been a trusted partner supporting the daily business activities across multiple categories. It has a deserved reputation for power, reliability, economy and efficiency.
“Continual product development will ensure it retains its dominant position within the New Zealand light truck market,” adds Brown.
* Fuso has grown from modest but healthy unit sales of 32 in 1978 to 500 in 2012.
* Fuso rose to become the top selling truck brand between 1990 and 2000, progressively introducing Canter, Fighter and Shogun trucks into New Zealand.
* Local assembly is no more, but Fuso has sold over 20,000 trucks in New Zealand to date.
