Fuso, Foxconn to put up new bus OEM in Japan

MANILA: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is set to put up a new bus firm in partnership with Foxconn (Hon Hai Technology Group) within the year.

In a statement, the Kawasaki-headquartered marque said that the electric commercial vehicle marque is expected to forge the latest agreement between the two companies within the second half of 2026.

According to MFTBC, Fuso Bus Head Katsuto Kora will be the new company’s chief executive officer. Its main office will also be in Kawasaki, but its products will be developed and manufactured at the company’s plant in Toyama under the Fuso name.

Fuso shared that the new company shall fulfill “society’s demand for high quality public transportation by accelerating the development of competitive, zero-emission buses in addition to the current diesel lineup.”

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“As a bus-dedicated OEM, the new company will focus on quickly developing and launching EV buses for domestic and international markets, while continuing to improve the conventional ICE portfolio,” the statement added.

MFTBC Chief Executive Officer Karl Deppen expressed excitement over the new project with Foxconn.

“This collaboration will combine the strengths of both parties to accelerate our transformation in the bus sector. By combining Fuso and Foxconn’s extensive experience and technological know-how, we will offer customers state-of-the-art solutions for public transport, thereby contributing to society both in Japan and abroad,” he explained.

For his part, Foxconn Chief Strategy Officer for EV Jun Seki mentioned that the alliance with MFTBC will provide a “comprehensive electrification solution for Japan’s transportation ecosystem.”

“This approach will significantly shorten development cycles and enhance cost-efficiency,” he added.

Meanwhile, Kora said that the new joint venture will combine the two companies’ corporate cultures — blending Japan’s spirit of manufacturing excellence with Foxconn’s agility and technological prowess.

“Given the extensive existing partnerships of both shareholders, we expect even broader collaboration opportunities in the field of future technologies in the years to come. Our focus will be on meeting customer expectations not only for current conventional ICE (internal combustion engine) improvement but also for zero-emission transportation and leading Fuso bus into a new era of digitalization and electrification,” the forthcoming firm’s designated top executive said.

The newest development on the collaboration between MFTBC and Foxconn came following the previous signing of a memorandum of understanding to explore strategic collaboration in zero emission, accelerating clean mobility for the Japanese commercial vehicle powerhouse and the world’s largest electronics manufacturer.

Through their respective subsidiaries (Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies), MFTBC and Foxconn look at cooperating in the development, production, supply chain management, and sales of zero emission buses — beginning with Foxtron-developed Model T and Model U.

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