Fuso through its distributor, the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO), has donated 126 Canter trucks to the national vaccination drive in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.
In response to government calls for private sector support, THACO has donated 63 units of the 4.99 tonne Fuso Canter for vaccination transport.
Another 63 units of the 6.5 tonne Canter to be used as mobile vaccination and testing centres.
These Canters were produced as Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits in the Fuso plant in Kawasaki, Japan, and assembled by THACO in their Quang Nam Province plant, located in central Vietnam.
The trucks, which come with refrigeration and rear steps for easy access into the cargo area, collectively exceed 150 billion VND ($AUD 9.0 million) in total value.
The FUSO vehicles will be operated around the country to meet the Vietnamese government’s goal of vaccinating 80 per cent of the population by June 2022.
Earlier this year, Vietnam launched a public fund to secure and distribute vaccine doses for its population of 100 million.
Organisations within, and outside of, Vietnam have since contributed in an effort to spur on the nation’s vaccination campaign.
THACO has supported prevention measures since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and in addition to this recent donation of trucks, the company has provided local municipalities with funds and medical supplies such as disinfectants, gloves, protective gear, and testing kits.
THACO was established in 1997 and has since become a leader in the Vietnamese commercial vehicle market.
At present it has a distribution network of 33 outlets.
THACO became the exclusive wholesale distributor and local assembly partner for Fuso products in 2017, and through its extensive sales network, has increased market presence for the Fuso brand in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Fuso line-up ranges from light-duty to heavy-duty trucks and also includes the Fuso Rosa bus.
Elsewhere, Fuso’s parent organisation Daimler Trucks continues to push the transformation to CO²-neutral transportation with further deliveries of the fully electric light-duty Fuso eCanter trucks in the second quarter of 2021.
Overall Fuso has now delivered more than 250 eCanter trucks to customers globally, with a significant number expected to join a major Australian fleet in the coming months.