Spotlight: Fuso Canter

Whether you grew up in the 1970s, the 1990s or even the 2000s, when you picture a light truck, there’s a good chance it’ll be one that wears a Fuso badge – especially if you’ve seen the movie Babe. If you’re old enough, it may even wear a Dodge or Mitsubishi badge, but more on that later.

The Fuso name dates back to 1932, when Mitsubishi Shipbuilding – which would become Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – made the B46 bus. Mitsubishi wanted a fancy new brand name for their first heavy vehicle so it landed on Fuso, which stems from the ancient Chinese word ‘Fusang’ – meaning tree of eternal life.

However, it wasn't until 1963 that the brand’s most recognisable model, the Canter (dubbed the T720 at that time), rolled off the line in Japan. It was a nimble cab-over truck designed to thrive in urban environments, but its future would see it excel far beyond the bustling streets of Tokyo.

The Canter made its way to Australia in 1971 and, across more than five decades it has forged a reputation as a dependable light-duty option that offers a compelling mix of comfort, reliability and performance.

Let’s look at how the Fuso Canter became a local icon and the pocket rocket of choice for so many Aussie operators…

The Canter made its official Australian debut in 1971, entering a market that was vastly different from the one we see today. At the time, the Fuso brand was distributed through Chrysler dealers and badged as a Dodge, meaning you might have seen a Canter sitting on a showroom floor right next to a Valiant Charger.

It arrived at a time when Australia’s urban freight ecosystem was growing, and businesses required something larger than a ute but more maneuverable than a heavy truck. The Canter filled that gap perfectly, offering a 3.5-tonne GVM and stout 95hp petrol engine for the red-hot price of just $3287. It quickly earned a reputation for being a bulletproof all-rounder.

A 2.7-litre diesel engine was also introduced a few years later, in both short and long wheelbases. This isn’t revolutionary by today’s standards, but back then the Canter’s flexibility was a big deal.

By the late ‘70s the model was rebadged from Dodge to Mitsubishi, and new models were introduced too, bringing larger engines (a 2.4-litre petrol and 3.3-litre diesel) as well as the introduction of the narrow and wide-cab variants. The update was promoted with the memorable (for those of you old enough) ‘not so squeezy’ television ad, in which three Sumo wrestlers climbed in and out of the truck to showcase its roomy interior.

The Canter was full steam ahead by the early 1980s, and by 1983 Mitsubishi rolled out a model that would become a staple for the brand: the Canter tipper. A few years later a 3.3-litre turbo-diesel engine was introduced, producing 117hp and quickly earning the model a reputation as a pocket rocket around town.

Then, in the late 1980s, Fuso introduced the Canter 4x4, which was the first off-road-ready light-duty truck of its kind Down Under. The 4x4 model was a hit in regional and remote Australia, favoured by fire services, farmers and even adventurous campers who wanted a rugged, go-anywhere platform that could carry more than any 4x4 wagon or ute.

Through the 1990s and into the 2000s, the Canter continued to evolve as the truck world advanced, culminating in an all-new lineup in 2008 that brought more power, productivity and renewed styling.

In 1995, the Canter again captured the nation’s attention on the big screen – but this time it had nothing to do with Sumo wrestlers. The iconic model featured in the Classic Australian movie Babe!

The Canter has remained so popular for more than 50 years not just for its value and reliability, but also the constant innovation across each model update. It’s a philosophy that has worked too, because by the time Fuso celebrated its 50th anniversary in Australia in 2021 it had sold more than 73,000 units locally.

This focus on innovation runs deep, and the firsts haven’t stopped coming for the brand.

In 2011, Fuso made waves during the launch of its new range by introducing the first dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in a commercial vehicle, known as the Duonic. The smart six-speed DCT brought car-like gear shifts to the light-truck world, eclipsing the performance of notoriously slow-shifting automated manual transmission offered at the time.

The biggest innovation in the Canter’s modern history, however, is the shift toward electrification. Fuso was the first manufacturer to bring a series-produced electric light truck to the market when it launched the eCanter globally in 2017.

It became available in Australia in 2021 – after being previewed at the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show – and now in its second generation, the eCanter remains the benchmark for light-duty electric trucks.

The current generation of Canter, which first launched in 2011, has undergone significant updates to keep it at the pointy end of the light-duty sales ladder – ending 2025 in third place behind Hino’s 300 Series and Isuzu’s N Series.

In 2019, Fuso added a suite of advanced safety features as standard across the Canter range, which included autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and electronic stability control. This was tech previously reserved for passenger cars, and Fuso beat both Isuzu and Hino to the advanced safety punch.

Then, in 2024 the Canter received another significant update, scoring a major facelift and further cabin refinements to improve driver comfort. The design closely mirrors that of its all-electric stablemate, giving the diesel models a futuristic front-end and more car-like interior.

On the zero-emission front, the second-generation eCanter, which launched locally in 2024, represents a massive leap forward for the brand’s electric offering. The second-generation model uses an efficient e-axle configuration and modular battery system that allows operators to choose between different range options depending on their driving needs. It’s still, in our opinion, the most refined electric light-duty truck on the market today.

Fuso has produced more than 4.5 million Canters globally since 1963, making the model a true success story. Even here in Australia, where big trucks often steal the limelight, the little Canter is a model operators hold dear, having driven or owned one at some point.

From a Dodge-badged import in the 1970s to a silent electric pioneer today, the Fuso Canter has never stopped innovating. And, through it all the model has retained its pocket rocket spirit – particularly the rapid eCanter!

If you’re after a tried-and-tested light truck, check out the wide range of new and used Fuso Canter models currently available on trucksales.