IN just eight years of production, FAW Trucks rolled its 10 000th unit off the company’s assembly plant in Gqeberha. Offering a locally-produced range that represents robust performance and excellent value for money in the extra-heavy, heavy, medium and light commercial segments of the South African vehicle market, the trucks have proved popular.
FAW Trucks SA, which has been present in South Africa for 28 years, is a joint investment by FAW group and CADFund. FAW Trucks soon realised that their vehicles meet the needs of South African and African users and commenced construction of a manufacturing plant in Coega, Gqeberha in 2012.
In 2012 this investment totalled R600 million and the 30 000 sqm facility includes a state-of-the-art training facility, a body shop and a paint shop. Vehicle production commenced in 2014 and now eight years later the 10 000th unit has rolled off the production line just a few months after the plant celebrated the production of its 8000th unit.
“The last eight years, following the opening of our production facility, saw the brand enter a period of rapid growth within the highly competitive commercial vehicle market. All models are assembled to extremely high standards in order to withstand the harsh conditions of the African continent as they continue to deliver on the promise of a truck built in South Africa for Africa,” says CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa, Yongjun Li.
The production facility employs staff from the local communities within the production, technical and quality, operations and supply chain, finance and human resources departments. The current product range includes seven different models, which are produced at a capacity of approximately 200 units per month.
The completion of the 10 000th locally-produced model follows in the wake of ongoing sales success and record sales in the last two quarters. Fittingly the 10 000th model is a JH6 28.500FT, this 6×4 AMT truck tractor is one of the most popular models in the FAW lineup and a big contributor to the continued growth of the brand in numerous applications, including mining, and long haul operations.
Various ministers and government officials attended the line-off ceremony, reaffirming the importance of this production facility in the Eastern Cape’s automotive industry and the value of its ongoing investment in the region. Sustained sales volumes of these reliable Chinese products have seen them become an integral part of the African commercial vehicle landscape.
Attending the roll-off ceremony were Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor, Retief Odendaal; Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism MEC, Mlungisi Mvoko and the acting consul general of the Chinese Consulate-General to Cape Town, Changan Tang. The Trade and Industry Minister, Ebrahim Patel and Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Xiaodong Chen delivered virtual messages of congratulations.
“Whilst we are proud of being able to surpass the 10 000 production mark in only eight years, we are only just getting up to speed. There are plans in place to ramp up production, in order to meet demand, which should see us surpass the 15 000 mark before the end of 2023,” says Li.
FAW Trucks recently expanded its model range with the addition of the new JH6 33.420FT 6×4 truck tractor, giving local customers more choice.
Integral to the success of any brand is a well-established dealer network. FAW Trucks recently received silver status at the NADA DSi awards, signalling growing confidence by their dealer body in the locally-produced product range, as well as the service and relationship between the manufacturer and their dealer network.
