BTS21: Fuso celebrates 50 years of Canter

The Canter has become a household name and more than 72,700 have been sold in Australia since the first trucks rolled into showrooms in 1971.

Visitors to the Daimler stand at the Brisbane Truck Show can go on a trip through time from the first Canter along to the latest model introduced, the fully-electric eCanter.

The eCanter became the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) all-electric truck available in Australia when it was launched in March and the production truck will appear for the first time at a public event in Brisbane.

Fuso will also present a current 515 Canter, a much more advanced truck than its 1971 relative, with features such as the radar-based Advanced Emergency Braking System, a lightweight common-rail turbo diesel engine and a dual-clutch automated transmission.

The first Canter to be sold in Australia was rated at 3.5 tonnes, produced 95hp and was priced at $3287. Advertisements at the time boasted of ‘extra’ features such as “flow-through ventilation” and “safety glass all-round.”

Canter soon established a reputation as a durable and willing worker and it wasn’t long before it became a common sight on roads and industrial facilities across Australia.

The Canter has continued to evolve over the years, with constant improvements that have meant each new model is more efficient, safer and easier to drive.

Canter is now available in a range of configurations from a 3.5 tonne car licence model to an 8.5 tonne version, along with City Cabs, Wide Cabs, Crew Cabs, Built Ready tippers, tray trucks and pantechs as well as a rugged 4x4 unit and the new all-electric eCanter.

“The Canter has achieved a lot of firsts throughout the years and the current model is the best Canter ever, being first with active safety and first with an OEM electric option in the form of eCanter,” said Fuso Truck and Bus Australia Director, Alex Müller.

“If you also consider Canter’s low tare weight and its five-year/200,000km warranty, it becomes clear why Canter has such a good reputation in Australia,” he added.