News from the Daimler Stable

News

7 Dec

Buy a 50th Anniversary Canter and you could win your money back.

Fuso is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Fuso Canter’s Australian introduction with a special edition model.

The 50th Anniversary Canter is based on a 515, the best-selling model in Australia, and 150 are available now at Fuso dealers across the country.

These are Built Ready Alloy Tray models and feature special factory silver paint, 50th Anniversary Edition badging and custom seat covers.

Fuso is also running a competition to celebrate the milestone. Three customers of the 50th Anniversary Canters, who purchase their vehicles before December 31, 2021, will win back the value of their trucks.

The standard specification of the Canter in 2021 is a world away from the original truck, which was quite bare apart the “flow-through ventilation” and “safety glass all-round” that were promoted in the advertisements of the time.

These days, the Canter 515 comes standard with a radar-based Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning System, a 7-inch high-resolution touch screen display and a driver’s airbag. While the original truck was manual-only, the new Canter is also available with an optional fast-shifting fully automated dual-clutch transmission.

Fuso has sold more than 73,000 Canters since the model was introduced in Australia after proving itself on the rough tracks of Papua New Guinea.

For more information about the 50th Anniversary Canter and the terms and conditions of the competition, visit Fuso.com.au

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Still on Fuso: Leading transport and logistics provider, Centurian, today unveiled its first electric truck – a Fuso eCanter. It will be deployed at Centurian’s branch in Mackay where the company provides 3PL and network services to multiple mines across Central Queensland.

The vehicles deployment is in partnership with BHP.

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Cascadia keeps Winning Fans

Family business Ken Blanch Transport carts a wide range of products up and down the eastern seaboard from it Mid North Coast base and has a nine-truck fleet made up of American and European models from four different manufacturers.

Taree based Ken Blanch has welcomed a Freightliner Cascadia to his mixed fleet. “This is the best fuel consumption I’ve had from of a bonneted truck,” said Ken.

Obviously keeping a very close eye on his trucks (plural) performances, Ken says the Cascadia does 600 metres per litre better. On the surface that doesn’t sound like much until you compare the Cascadia’s 2.4 km per litre to the rest of the fleet’s average of 1.8 km per litre. “That is significant over a period of time,” said Ken.

Blanch Transport’s Cascadia runs the 16-litre Detroit DD 16, putting out 560 hp. The company delivers bricks, rooftop steel, fertiliser, timber and other items up and down Australia’s east coast, and was founded by Ken in 1989 with just one truck, a Ford LNT 9000, a far cry from the cutting-edge Cascadia.

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Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific has completed its separation from the local Mercedes-Benz passenger car division as Daimler Truck becomes an independent global commercial vehicle manufacturer, allowing for a sharper focus on commercial vehicle customers.

The global changes will enable the Daimler Truck business to continue delivering class-leading Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso trucks and buses into the future as it moves towards zero emissions.

Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific has grown its workforce as it takes on previously shared internal services, but the big news for customers is the creation of a new dedicated truck and bus finance company; Daimler Truck Financial Services.

Previously, Daimler’s commercial vehicle finance offerings were provided by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, the same finance company that delivers finance for Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle customers.

From now on, Daimler Truck Financial Services will be wholly dedicated to truck and bus customers, through the established Daimler Truck and Bus dealer network.

Experienced commercial vehicle finance executive, Craig Cubitt, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the new organisation that will be based at Daimler Truck and Bus headquarters in Mulgrave, Victoria.

Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, says the independence of Daimler Truck is a big plus.

**Craig Cubitt (L) with Daniel Whitehead**

“We are excited that Daimler Truck is now a standalone global entity because we know that independence will make us more nimble and enable us to continue making the investments needed to develop the best trucks, buses and associated services of the future,” said Daniel Whitehead. “The creation of a dedicated financial services company for Daimler Truck and Bus customers is also a welcome development.

“Running a fleet of trucks or buses is very different to operating a passenger vehicle and the finance requirements they need for their business are also unique. We are excited that Craig and his entire team will now be able to focus solely on our truck and bus customers and provide them with the best and most innovative commercial vehicle financial products and services,” he says.

Craig Cubitt says the Daimler Truck Financial Services team, which has extensive industry experience in Australia, is perfectly positioned to deliver the best products and services to Daimler Truck and Bus customers.

“We aim to be a truly customer-focused organisation that puts our truck and bus customers at the centre of everything we do. Our new structure as a stand-alone finance company means we can serve our truck customers and dealers better than ever before.”

Daimler Truck Financial Services offers a wide range of financial solutions, including business asset loans, hire-purchase, and lease products, as well as some unique innovative solutions that are not available anywhere else in the industry.

Daimler Truck Financial Services will offer two unique and exclusive products: Fast Track Finance, which offers a fast streamlined approval process, and the very popular Daimler Guaranteed Buy Back program, which provides customers a guaranteed future value on their Daimler truck right from the beginning of their contract.

Daimler Guaranteed Buy back is unlike traditional loans, as it also offers several options at the end of contract including the option to hand back the truck or alternatively, the customer can choose to retain the truck or trade it in for a new one. No matter the selected option, the customer has confidence knowing the truck’s value will match the outstanding balance and avoid any negative equity.

For more details about these products and services, visit www.daimlertrucks.com.au