FUSO trucks invade Zim market

Business Reporter
DAIMLER India Commercial Vehicles and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation Japan see great potential in the new FUSO trucks tailored for the Zimbabwean market.
In an emailed response to an inquiry by The Herald Business, Mr Ran Koike – head of communications at Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation  said Daimler Trucks was strengthening its operations in Africa and Asia.

FUSO trucks from India have already started getting into Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe is the fourth market to launch of the new FUSO truck in Africa and fifth market overall with Uganda to follow in the coming weeks,” Mr Koike said.

“We do see good potential and our new FUSO trucks are exactly the best fit, custom-tailored to meet the requirements of our customers in Zimbabwe. We cannot provide detailed expectations, but we see great potential overall in Africa where Mitsubishi Fuso has already a significant presence (35 countries),” said Mr Koike.

The all-new FUSO trucks are distributed by local partner Zimoco.
“This as our traditional strength, Daimler Trucks is strengthening its operations in Africa and Asia – especially in the so-called growth markets – by combining two existing pillars, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation based in Japan, and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles based in India,” he said.

Mr Koike said German and Japanese technologies were built into the DICV-made trucks, which have undergone testing to meet customer requirements in regards to fuel-efficiency and other market needs.

DICV, the Daimler Company, and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation first launched the vehicles in Africa in May 2013.
FUSO trucks are already present in Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania in Africa, and in Sri Lanka in Asia.

The company said the FUSO range of trucks were already showing strong growth potential, with a presence in over 35 markets and almost doubling sales in first quarter of 2014 to 2 000 units.

“With a clear view on the growth potential in Africa, FUSO is in preparation to continuously add more markets to its strong market presence,” a statement on the company’s website said.