Mitsubishi middleweights canter into the UK market with Volvo Trucks
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• Volvo Truck and Bus will sell Mitsubishi Canter light trucks in the UK from the beginning of next year under a new deal struck between the Swedish truck manufacturer and the Japanese vehicle giant. The 3.5-7.5-tonne Mistubishi-bodged light-middleweight rigids will be supplied from Mitsubishi Trucks Europe's assembly plant in Portugal. The move will give Volvo two 7.5-tonners to sell into one of the biggest market sectors in the UK. Its FLC is effectively a scaled-down version of its FL rigid range and is less than competitive against models from lveco Ford and Leyland Dal. Both companies will also conduct a feasibility study "with the aim of developing and manufacturing medium-duty trucks between 7.5-18 tonnes GM, while retaining their own distinctive brand profiles". Vehicle sales would be handled via each company's dealer networks.
Any Volvo model developed by the project would initially be restricted Europe, but Volvo will also look at supplying Mitsubishi with components for its heavy truck range.