Fuso NZ is boosting its light truck range with additional safety features to the popular Canter model.
Passenger-side airbag and a new seven-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto linked to a reversing camera have been added.
Active emergency braking, lane departure warning, electronic braking and electronic stability control are also standard features on the 4×2 trucks.
The new model is available from April and “signals the beginning of an exciting period for Fuso New Zealand,” Fuso NZ managing director Kurtis Andrews says.
“Over the next 12 months, we have some exciting product developments to share with the market. Canter is one of our most important models, so it is fitting that it should lead the charge,” he says.
Canter’s other existing features include brake priority system, hill start assist, heated rear-view mirrors and a reinforced cab.
The launch also introduces Fuso NZ’s new ‘We look after our own’ brand position with an emphasis on customer service and safety.
“When it comes to safety, we take our responsibility to drivers, other road users and the transport industry as a whole extremely seriously. The new generation Canter is our first step towards improving safety across our range and building a safer fleet on our national road network,” Andrews says.
More than 11,000 Canters have been registered in New Zealand since its inception 45 years ago.
“We understand what operators expect from a truck and have always been committed to delivering on that.
“Canter has always been one of the most popular light trucks in New Zealand – a tried and trusted investment for single-unit owner-operators to giant multinationals.
“In terms of efficiency and performance, Fuso’s Duonic automated manual transmission is still class-leading and our tippers were the first, and remain the only, light trucks in New Zealand to feature a limited slip differential.
“Canter’s new safety offering is the next step in this iconic truck’s evolution, placing a premium on the wellbeing of our drivers, which is vital to the future health of our industry,” Andrews says.
