Sales Of First DICV-Produced FUSO Buses Begin

• The BA is the first bus model to be produced for the FUSO brand at the Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) Oragadam plant.
• Over 100 units have produced for customers in the UAE market.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC; headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO Hartmut Schick), announces that the first FUSO buses built in India have crossed a 100-unit production milestone. The BA bus, which is exported out of the DICV (Daimler India Commercial Vehicles) Oragadam plant as a BU vehicle, is now available to customers in the United Arab Emirates.

The FUSO BA bus is a further step in collaboration under the Daimler Trucks Asia partnership; three organizations within the Daimler group — MFTBC, DICV, and EvoBus – contributed to its realization. The sales strategy for the new product was arranged by MFTBC and EvoBus, while DICV oversaw the design and production process. The product was developed in response to customer demand for vehicles able to transport over 30 passengers. Since pilot sales for the product began in December 2019, the number of BA buses produced for the UAE market has now crossed 100 units. Cumulative production of the BA bus is planned to reach 800 units by the end of year 2023.

The FUSO BA bus, which is modeled on the BharatBenz Staff Bus, seats 36 passengers and is designed to match local demand for student and employee transportation. The application of an existing model allowed for the speedy commercialization of the vehicle for a market with strong growth in urban development and industrialization. The bus is installed with the economical 3.9-liter 4D37 4-cylinder engine that complies with Euro V emission norms. All seats are equipped with fire-retardant upholstery and 3-point seat belts for increased passenger safety. A roof hatch also enables emergency ventilation or evacuation, providing another level of assurance during commutes. To match extreme summer conditions, the BA also comes standard with a high-capacity air conditioner.

In addition to the new BA bus, the light-duty Rosa bus has also been available locally. Being the largest market in the MENA region for MFTBC, the UAE has traditionally been a stronghold of the FUSO brand. In 2019, FUSO vehicles achieved a market share of over 53%. BU trucks and buses from DICV’s Oragadam plant, as well as MFTBC’s Kawasaki and Toyama plants are exported to the country. Sales are currently overseen by Al Habtoor Motors, which has been a FUSO general distributor in the region since 1983.

Vehicle Specs

Model: BA
GVW: 9.6 tonnes
Engine (output): 4D37 (125kW/170hp at 2500 rpm)
Transmission: MO36 (6 forward, 1 reverse speed)
Capacity: 37 (36 passengers + driver)
Overall length/width/height: 9,080mm/2,350mm/3,137mm approx.
Suspensions: Parabolic leaf spring with shock absorbers in front and rear
Brakes: Pneumatically operated drum brakes with antilock braking system