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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS
APRIL 2015
38
B
uilding on its impressive record of
‘firsts’ this will again mark a moment
in FAW’s local history when it starts
full production of the Tiger range at the
Coega-based production plant.
Yusheng Zhang, CEO of FAW Vehicle Manu-
facturers SA, says: “FAW continues its trend-
setting path in local truck manufacture. Not
only have we managed to produce our FAW
trucks at the best quality levels, comparable
– if not better - than our FAW parent compa-
ny in China - but we’ve been able to do so
in a very short period considering our plant
became fully operational from July last year
only.
Since our Body Building Facility was com-
mission in January we have also been build-
ing tipper bodies from SKD packs imported
from our parent plant in China, and providing
finished tipper trucks to our growing pool of
customers.”
While the first FAW ‘full-bodied’ tippers roll
off the lines at the assembly plant and body
shop, the production team is already assess-
ing the viability of producing drop-side bodies
for their range of robust and durable vehicles
spanning the heavy and extra-heavy com-
mercial vehicle ranges on offer in Southern
Africa.
“The FAW Tiger will be a ‘true-blood’ South
African, built locally and uniquely engineered
for the African environment.
“For the introductory phase we will com-
mence with a 5 ton payload dropside body,
which will provide for the lowest cost per ton
on the market.
“The tiger will carry all the hallmarks that
FAW trucks stand for – strength, reliability,
easy operation and most importantly – de-
livering on the promise of a ‘truck built for
Africa, in Africa.”
According the FAW management team, the
rationale for introducing a medium weight
range is to satisfy customer requests for a
vehicle as durable and rugged as FAW heavy
and extra-heavy trucks, but with the dimen-
sions to handle a different working environ-
ment, calling for smaller sized vehicles.
“FAW pays attention to what customers are
telling us. This is why we are extending our
local offering to this weight category. We be-
lieve this segment of the market has great
potential and opportunity for growth,” says
Zhang.
“Without giving too much detail before the
official launch, suffice to say the Tiger will
be fitted with the best drivetrain and will in-
clude global componentry from the USA and
Europe.
“This new FAW Tiger may have been bred in
China, and trained through international part-
ners, but in South Africa it will find its true
home.”
b
FAW TIGER RANGE PRODUCTION LAUNCH
at the Coega