Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) expresses its deepest sympathy to those suffering from loss during this pandemic, and those who are currently battling its effects. In line with the Daimler Truck Purpose statement, “for all who keep the world moving,” MFTBC is taking measures worldwide to support communities responding to the spread of the coronavirus.
Mitsubishi Fuso will be donating 200 liters of sanitizing liquid to Kawasaki City and a hospital within the municipality. The sanitizing liquid has been produced on the plant premises, making use of equipment in the Material Lab overseen by the Quality Management department. The Material Lab is a controlled environment where the characteristics of materials used in vehicle parts are normally studied. It was inaugurated in December 2017, with state-of-the-art tools to enable the highest level of precision in measurements. While shortages of commercially available sanitizers continue in Japan, the fume hood inside the lab is used to safely combine ethanol, glycerin, and distilled water into a sanitizer for cleaning purposes. Over 600 liters of the sanitizing liquid have been produced until now.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe (MFTE), a wholly owned subsidiary of MFTBC, is also supporting the efforts of medical workers in Tramagal, Portugal, through the production and donation of face protectors. The protectors consist of a replaceable polyethylene shield connected to a headband, which is being produced with 3D printing equipment. The model for the headband is from an open-source platform created specifically as a coronavirus relief effort. Portuguese medical teams working on the front lines against the epidemic have validated the design of the protectors, and hundreds have been provided to health institutions in the Tramagal area. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks and gowns have also been donated to these neighboring hospitals.
In addition to these donations, MFTBC-related organizations around the world have been involved in further initiatives to counter the spread of the coronavirus:
- Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), MFTBC’s partner company under the Daimler Trucks Asia umbrella, has pledged financial aid to relief funds, while providing medical equipment to government administrations and charities in India. The DICV Oragadam plant is also providing around 1000 meals a day to those in need within Chennai.
- In Kenya, Simba Corporation, the general distributor of FUSO products, has been distributing food and soap to 200 families in disadvantaged communities through its corporate social investment arm, the Simba Foundation. Supporting the distribution of these goods are FUSO’s medium-duty FI trucks. The aid program has been running since April and will last until September. The Simba Foundation has also been providing hand sanitizers to local police stations, to support their work in enforcing social distancing guidelines.
- Daimler Trucks Asia Taiwan (DTAT), joint venture and exclusive distributor of FUSO products, has donated reusable mask covers to children’s homes in all regions across Taiwan.
Elsewhere around the world, FUSO trucks and buses continue to operate alongside essential workers in logistics, sanitation, and medical services. Last month, MFTBC announced that it would support two-month coverage extensions for vehicle warranties worldwide, to assist FUSO customers and their services to society in the face of the pandemic. MFTBC has aimed to maintain its global service network where possible, while prioritizing the health of employees, customers, and business partners in adherence to local requirements.
“The creativity of our employees and business partners has taken form to help those fighting against the pandemic, as well as customers and communities hit by its effects. This is a challenging time for all, but we will continue to do our part to curb the societal impact of the coronavirus.” (President and CEO of MFTBC and Head of Daimler Trucks Asia, Hartmut Schick)
