Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. (MFTA) has announced that it has signed eight new Canadian dealers to its network so far in 2009, and expects to add at least three more, expanding its dealer network across the country by nearly 50 percent. Business opportunities created by the closure of Sterling, as well as the announced cutbacks in model lineups by Isuzu/GMC and Hino, have spurred the company to aggressively pursue top dealers in Canada.
“We’ve always found Canada a good market for our trucks,” says Mike Rumsey, vice president of sales operations. “Fusos are rugged and known for their reliability, which is particularly valuable in tough operating environments. Our exclusive warranty package helps owners control their costs, and predictable costs help any company build profitability.”
MFTA also recently announced that it will continue its 3+4+5 Warranty package for its 2010 model year trucks. The package includes a three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, a four-year rust-through warranty and a five-year/280,000 km (FE/FG models) or five-year/400,000 km (FK/FM models) powertrain limited warranty.
“One thing not everyone realizes right away is that our five-year warranty includes not only the expected engine and drivetrain components, but also bolt-on components like the starter, alternator, water pump – even the turbocharger,” Rumsey says. “No one else in the business matches that level of commitment to its customers.”
As for Canadian operations, the company reports that sales have been accelerating for several years. “It took us just over five years to sell our first 1,000 trucks in Canada,” Rumsey says. “It only took an additional 26 months to sell our second 1,000, and that pace continues to accelerate. The new dealers we’ve signed this year are crucial to our growth plans going forward, and we will continue to identify new dealer opportunities.”
