The joint venture plans to build competitive, zero-emission buses, starting with the Japanese market. The new company is expected to launch in the second half of 2026 and will work as an independent bus manufacturer (OEM).
Katsuto Kora, who currently leads Fuso’s bus division, has been named CEO of the new company. Fuso’s bus division is not active in Europe.
The two companies will work together through their subsidiaries, Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies. They will combine their strengths in bus development, production, supply chain management, and distribution to create zero-emission buses.
The joint venture will be headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan. The electric buses it produces will carry the Fuso brand and will be built at Fuso’s existing bus factory in Toyama, Japan.
The first buses will be the Model T and Model U. These models have already been developed by Foxtron and will serve as the base designs for the new electric buses.
The Model T was first shown in 2021 and is already being used in several cities in Taiwan, including Taipei, as well as in Indonesia. It is a standard 12-metre city bus and is said to have a driving range of up to 400 kilometres.
The Model U is a smaller microbus that was introduced in October 2024. It has a modular and premium interior, allowing the inside layout to be changed easily.
Depending on the seating arrangement, the Model U can carry up to 21 passengers. Detailed size and technical information has not been shared yet, as the vehicle is still a prototype or reference design.
Fuso CEO Karl Deppen stated: “We are delighted to collaborate with Foxconn. This partnership combines the strengths of both companies and will accelerate our transformation in the bus sector. By leveraging the extensive experience and technological expertise of Fuso and Foxconn, we will offer our customers cutting-edge solutions for public transport and contribute to society in Japan and worldwide.”
“Mobility is a strategic priority for Foxconn,” said Jun Seki, Chief Strategy Officer for Electric Vehicles at Foxconn. “This collaboration with Mitsubishi Fuso will deliver a comprehensive electrification solution for Japan’s transport system. This approach will significantly shorten development cycles and improve cost efficiency.”
Fuso and Foxconn signed an agreement in August last year to explore working together on zero-emission mobility. From the beginning, their main focus was on developing two electric bus models.
At first, Fuso teaming up with Foxconn might seem unusual, since Fuso’s parent company, Daimler Truck, already sells the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro electric bus. However, market needs are different in each country. Changing the eCitaro to fit the Japanese market would take more time and cost more than using Foxconn’s modern electric bus platform.
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