Mitsubishi Fuso’s Portuguese factory celebrates 60 years

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its production site in Tramagal, Portugal. The factory is the third largest in Portugal. In 2023, the plant built and delivered approximately 11,800 trucks to its customers, setting a production record for the plant. This is where the Canter and eCanter light trucks for the European markets are produced.

Since production began 60 years ago, more than 260,000 units have been manufactured in Tramagal – including the FUSO Canter light truck, which the plant began producing in 1980. Today, MFTE ships production to 33 European and Moroccan markets.

The Tramagal factory was founded in 1964 as a joint venture between the Portuguese family business Duarte Ferreira and the former French truck manufacturer Berliet. Fully knocked down assembly (CKD) of Mitsubishi Fuso Bus and Truck Corporation (“MFTBC”) began in 1980. The plant later produced the FUSO Canter light truck for the Portuguese market, and then the heavy-duty Fuso, Mitsubishi. L 200 pick-up, L 300 van and even Pajero 4×4.

In 1990, the factory was bought by the Portuguese importer of Mitsubishi Motors. Six years later, in 1996, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation took over the factory and decided to focus on the production of the FUSO Canter. The plant was merged with Daimler AG in 2004 after the company acquired a majority stake in Mitsubishi Fuso. In 2017, the factory started limited production of the first series of battery-electric FUSO eCanter. From 2023, the new generation eCanter will be mass produced.

Since 2022, the factory has achieved CO2 neutrality in the balance of its operations, thanks, among other things, to the production of green electricity on site. The factory aims to become a climate-friendly facility and continues to improve its green strategy. MFTE is also testing technologies for local production of green hydrogen.

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