The new-generation FUSO Canter will be New Zealand's safest light truck, Fuso NZ reckons.
The light-duty 4x2 Canter, available from next month, comes jam-packed with a suite of safety features that includes active emergency braking, lane departure warning, an electronic braking system, electronic stability control, a reversing camera and passenger airbags as standard.
They join existing safety features including a brake priority system, four-wheel disc brakes, driver's airbag, hill start assist, heated rear-vision mirrors and a reinforced, ECE-R29 rated cab.
Fuso NZ says it amounts to "the most comprehensive safety package ever seen in a light truck in NZ."
The radar-based active braking system helps to avoid or reduce the seriousness of collisions (with other vehicles or pedestrians) – automatically initiating emergency braking if the driver doesn't quickly respond to visual and audio warnings.
The lane departure warning system operates at over 60km/h, sounding visual and audio alerts if the truck strays out of its lane without the indicator deployed.
The electronic brake system is an addition to the long-offered ABS – controlling the braking pressure applied to each wheel…automatically taking into account the loading and road conditions.
Electronic stability control uses steering and yaw rate sensors to detect loss of control – applying appropriate braking to each wheel to aid steering control and improve stability.
The 34-model Canter range also comes with a new seven-inch touchscreen – compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto – linked to a reversing camera.
And it has a five-year/200,000-kilometre extended warranty, which Fuso NZ believes is the first of its kind in the light-truck market.
Fuso NZ managing director Kurtis Andrews says of the warranty: "It's simple. The warranty extends from 36mths/100,000kms out to a whopping 60 months/200,000kms. This is a huge amount of value, delivered at no additional cost, with the only stipulation being that the customer services the vehicle at an authorised FUSO dealer."  
Andrews says that the arrival of the new Canter "signals the beginning of an exciting period for Fuso NZ.
"Over the next 12 months, we have some exciting product developments to share with the market. Canter is one of our most important models, so it's fitting that it should lead the charge." 
Fuso NZ is also launching a new "We look after our own" brand positioning – reflecting its undertaking to "support customers' businesses through exceptional value, trusted service and advanced technology….improving overall performance, return on investment and, most importantly, enhancing driver and road user safety."  
Says Andrews: "When it comes to safety, we take our responsibility to drivers, other road users and the transport industry as a whole extremely seriously. The new-generation Canter is our first step towards improving safety across our range and building a safer fleet on our national road network."
Since the Canter was launched in NZ 45 years ago, more than 11,000 of them have been sold here.
Adds Andrews: "We understand what operators expect from a truck and have always been committed to delivering on that. Canter has always been one of the most popular light trucks in NZ – a tried and trusted investment for single-unit owner-operators….to giant multinationals." 
The model has, he says, already achieved class firsts with the Duonic AMT and a limited slip differential in its tippers.
"Canter's new safety offering is the next step in this iconic truck's evolution, placing a premium on the wellbeing of our drivers, which is vital to the future health of our industry."