Construction World July 2015

EQUIPMENT

MEDIUM TRUCK range FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA has launched a new FAW medium-weight truck range specifically engineered for the local market and built on South

A new player in the medium- weight market FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA took a stra- tegic decision to redesign and re-engineer the China-version of the truck to be perfectly suited to local medium truck demands. The FAW team paid special attention to cost efficiency combined with the best possible payload and the best turnaround time, without forgetting FAW’s quality build stand- ards for durability and reliability. “The new FAW 8.140 FL carries all the hallmarks that FAW trucks are renowned for, namely strength, reliability, easy operation, and most importantly, delivering on the promise of a ‘truck built for Africa, in Africa’.” Strength from top to bottom Imported from parent plants as SKD kits, the cab, chassis, axles and other sub-assembly components, together with the imported Cummins ISF engine and the ZF transmission, are all neatly assembled in the brand new Coega-based plant. Since its opening, this plant has employed over 100 new employees, all of whom have been freshly trained and up-skilled for the new medium truck produc- tion. The total capacity of the plant is 5 000 units per annum. As demand for the new range and the existing heavy and extra-heavy FAW trucks increases, new job opportunities will be created. The FAW 8.140 FL will be available from FAW dealers in a number of body derivatives – a drop-side, a taut-liner option, a van body,

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African soil for the Southern and Central African markets.

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Yusheng Zhang, CEO of FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA, explains the rationale behind the introduction of a new, precision-designed,

medium-sized truck range.

“Our decision to introduce a medium weight truck range was based on customer demand and market opportunity. Our market analysis confirmed the need for a vehicle as durable and rugged as our heavy and extra- heavy trucks, but with smaller dimensions to handle a different working environment. “We’ve had a presence in South Africa since 1994 – so this year marks our ‘rite of passage’. Throughout this period, we have demonstrated our commitment to this country and our loyal customers. “This latest investment we have made in acquiring special tooling for this new medi- um-sized truck range and the specialised training, which is still ongoing, combined with that of the last four years totals in excess of ZAR800-million to date. This includes our truck body-building facility which opened in January this year and our manufacturing plant commissioned in July last year – both based at Coega, just outside Port Elizabeth.”

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2015