Mitsubishi Fuso, Foxconn Launch Electric Bus Venture

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation has entered into a strategic joint venture with Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn to develop and produce electric buses in Japan, marking a significant move in the country’s zero-emission public transport landscape. The partnership was officially announced on January 22, 2026.

The new joint venture will operate as an independent electric bus original equipment manufacturer and is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026. In its initial phase, the venture will focus exclusively on the Japanese market, supplying battery-electric buses designed for public transportation systems as Japan accelerates its shift toward cleaner mobility solutions.

The collaboration brings together Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck-owned Mitsubishi Fuso, and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, Foxconn’s electric vehicle arm. By combining their respective strengths, the partners aim to cover the full spectrum of electric bus development, including vehicle engineering, manufacturing, supply chain coordination, and sales and distribution.

Headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan, the joint venture will manufacture electric buses under the Fuso brand at Mitsubishi Fuso’s existing bus production facility in Toyama. This approach allows the company to leverage established manufacturing infrastructure while integrating Foxconn’s expertise in electric vehicle platforms and electronics.

Leadership of the new entity will be overseen by Katsuto Kora, who currently heads Mitsubishi Fuso’s bus division and has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the joint venture. Mitsubishi Fuso’s bus operations are primarily focused on the Japanese domestic market and do not have a presence in Europe.

According to the companies, the first electric bus models will be derived from Foxtron’s Model T and Model U platforms, which will serve as reference designs for the initial product lineup. The Model T is a 12-metre electric city bus unveiled in 2021 and already deployed in multiple cities, including Taipei and locations in Indonesia. Foxtron has stated that the Model T offers a driving range of up to 400 kilometres on a single charge.

The Model U, introduced in October 2024, represents a smaller electric bus concept featuring a modular interior layout. Depending on configuration, it can accommodate up to 21 passengers. Final technical specifications for the Model U have not yet been disclosed, as the vehicle remains at the prototype or reference design stage.

Commenting on the partnership, Mitsubishi Fuso CEO Karl Deppen said the collaboration with Foxconn would accelerate the company’s transformation in the bus segment by combining complementary capabilities. Jun Seki, Foxconn’s Chief Strategy Officer for electric vehicles, highlighted that the joint venture aims to deliver a comprehensive electrification solution tailored to Japan’s transportation needs.

The partnership builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies in August 2025 to explore cooperation in zero-emission mobility. Daimler Truck, which has held a majority stake in Mitsubishi Fuso since 2005, is not directly involved in the joint venture structure. Financial terms, ownership details, and production volumes have not been disclosed, with further announcements expected closer to the start of operations in 2026.