FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd has notched up another record. The latest milestone added to the company’s history is the 3 000th locally built vehicle to roll-off the production line.
Besides the fact that FAW SA started modestly over 20 years ago selling trucks locally, it has in recent years truly stepped up its expansion plans for the SA market. FAW SA has made a major commitment in the last four years amounting to over 100 million USD in local plant, infrastructure, job creation and training. The Coega-based plant and body-building facility have only been in full operation for just over three years.
Recently the production line was geared for the new FAW 33.420 truck tractor.
The Coega plant has increased production to include almost all FAW commercial vehicles sold in the local and Southern African regions. Customer demand specifically for locally built FAW trucks has increased exponentially in the last three years, say the firm.
A growing number of African truck dealers who traditionally placed their orders for vehicles built by FAW China continue to move their orders to originate out of South Africa owing to the shorter lead time for delivery, the high levels of quality from the South African plant, and the reduced cost of sourcing FAW vehicles on the same continent.
Jianyu Hao, CEO of FAW SA adds; “What is most gratifying is that many of our units being bought by sub-Saharan customers are now 2nd and 3rd generation repurchases. This affirms our commitment for service and support into the African regions.”
