FAW celebrates 29 years in South Africa
FAW trucks are built for local conditions and have proven themselves as being robust and durable in many South African industries.
Since its introduction, FAW Trucks has always been committed to South Africa and its people. This was backed up by a decision in 2012 to invest locally and open a manufacturing plant in Coega, Gqberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
At the time, this investment was one of the largest by a Chinese company in South Africa. The plant, which was built at a cost of R600m, covers 30 000m², features a state-of-the-art training facility, a body shop and a paint shop. In 2014, the first vehicle rolled off that assembly line and they have never looked back.
The FAW Trucks manufacturing facility is a substantial employer in the Eastern Cape, providing large amounts of employment to residents of the local Gqberha community, both in its own facility as well as within those of local suppliers on which it relies.
The FAW Trucks manufacturing facility has gone from strength to strength, and earlier this year, the 8 000th locally assembled vehicle rolled off their Coega assembly line.
FAW Trucks has enjoyed remarkable growth due to its reputation for offering quality products that are able to cater to the unique usage requirements of South African commercial vehicle buyers.
Exceptional value for money
In a market that is facing enormous pressure from external factors such as rising interest rates, fuel prices and global supply chain constraints, FAW Trucks continue to offer affordability in both purchase and total cost of ownership.
“Highlights from our 29 year local history include the launch of the FAW 13.160 flat-nose model in 1999, the launch of the J5 in 2005 and the launch of the 8.140FL in 2015. This model was critical in FAW Trucks becoming an established player, particularly in the heavy vehicle segment of the commercial vehicle market. A proud heritage indeed,” said Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.
In the first quarter of 2021, the Chinese brand took the top spot in the heavy commercial segment of the South African market for the first time, and to date, they continue to maintain a strong foothold in the market by continuously outselling a number of more established brands.
Aftersales is critically important when it comes to customer satisfaction and retention. In 2018, FAW Trucks received the Most Improved Award in the commercial vehicle category of the NADA Dealer Satisfaction Survey and have continued to rank highly in subsequent surveys, with a silver award at the most recent announcement. This survey rates the relationship between manufacturers and dealers, which is critical for the growth and longevity of a brand.
Source: QuickPic
