The New Mitsubishi Light-Duty Canter Truck to be Premiered in Japan

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), one of Asia’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, announces the world premiere of the new light-duty Canter truck. The new model, which comes with a redesigned cab, will be available through MFTBC retail locations across Japan from November 2020.

Equipped with the advanced Active Sideguard Assist safety feature, it helps detect pedestrians otr other vehicles on the left of the side of the truck through radar sensors. This safety feature emits alerts whenever it detects any risk of collision when the driver is steering to the left or has turned on the left-turn signal. In addition to the Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) already included in the previous model, the newly installed Active Sideguard Assist enables further safety support. The installment of Active Sideguard Assist in this new Canter means all truck models available in the Japanese market now come with the feature.

The new Canter also features a redesigned face that combines cues to the historic brand design, as well as an agility reflective of light-duty transport. The upgrade of the cab exterior also reflects FUSO’s Black Belt design identity, which runs through other vehicles in the Japanese product range. LED headlights are incoporated and represent both a technological and conceptual update after ten years. 

Additionally, the updated model is installed with the FUSO telematics platform Truckonnect, which aims to support customer fleet operations and vehicle management. Truckonnect remotely connects to vehicles and monitors data such as location, fuel efficiency, and operation status including any technical issues. The information detected from the vehicle is shared real-time with MFTBC’s Customer Assistance Center (CAC) around the clock. Truckonnect has already been introduced to FUSO’s heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks, as well as the all-electric eCanter. In cases where any risk of failure is detected, the necessary support can be provided through the CAC, including service provision timelines and maintenance guidance.

To support light-duty truck drivers who require frequent and easy access to the cabin for urban deliveries, the new Canter also comes with the FUSO Easy Access System. With this new feature, drivers can lock or unlock the vehicle by simply pressing a switch on the door handle, as long as the remote key is in the vicinity of the door. Driver comfort and efficiency is also improved by the keyless press-and-turn engine switch. 

All of these changes are part of MFTBC's continual improvement to their light-duty truck line, in line with customer needs and the chance to offer the highest level of safety and efficiency on the road.