M'bishi Fuso Shipping Commuter Buses To Australia

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. has begun exporting heavy-duty buses to Australia, where city bus networks are expanding amid efforts to ease traffic in urban areas.

The Japanese firm expects to ship this year 20 or so units of the Aero Star, which holds up to 80 passengers and offers a fuel economy of 4.25km per liter.

The bus was certified at the end of last year following a road safety test in Australia. Its smooth starts and acceleration cut down on passenger falls.

The vehicle is being supplied on a trial basis to bus companies for now and will be used in such cities as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. After the transportation efficiency and other aspects of performance are checked, formal sales will begin.

In Sydney, some city buses carry students on during school commute hours. Mitsubishi Fuso expects the Aero Star to serve as a school bus, too.

Japanese firms previously sold only minibuses in Australia. Mitsubishi Fuso is the first to offer large models there.

(The Nikkei Business Daily, March 13 edition)

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