On May 9th, local time, FAW Trucks celebrated its 30th anniversary in South Africa at the FAW South Africa Kuha factory. Hu Hanjie, Chief Consultant of FAW Overseas Affairs, Yu Changxin, Party Committee Member and Executive Deputy General Manager of FAW Trucks, and Leng Changchun, General Manager of Overseas Product Line of FAW Trucks, attended the event. Government officials from the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, the South African Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Eastern Cape Province, Mandela City, as well as representatives from Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa, supporting dealerships, major clients, and media friends, all gathered to witness this grand occasion.
Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa Liu Yu delivered speeches praising FAW Trucks for its contributions to the South African market, employment, and social development. They also lauded FAW South Africa as an exemplary Sino-South African cooperation enterprise, acknowledging its outstanding achievements and positive social responsibilities, which have greatly contributed to South Africa’s economic prosperity and social progress.
In his speech representing FAW China, Hu Hanjie expressed gratitude to the South African government and partners for their long-standing support of FAW China and its operations in South Africa. He stated that the past thirty years mark both an endpoint and a starting point, as FAW China will continue to increase investment in Southern Africa, making greater contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of Southern Africa.
The breakthroughs and achievements of FAW Trucks in the South African market would not have been possible without the steadfast support of dealers, customers, employees, and other partners. During the ceremony, FAW Trucks specially honored outstanding partners who have made significant contributions to market development and business expansion over the past 30 years. Award recipients took the stage to share their stories of growth alongside FAW Trucks.
At the event, Liu Yu, Mandela City Mayor Gary Van Niekerk, Hu Hanjie, Yang Jian, Deputy General Manager of FAW South Africa (presiding over the event), Dong Kun, Chief Representative of the South African Representative Office of the China-Africa Development Fund, and Mr. Richard from FAW South Africa jointly illuminated the screen, initiating the countdown ceremony. As the screen rose, the new generation flagship model JH6 550 horsepower tractor was unveiled, heralding the next thirty years.
For the past thirty years, FAW Trucks has been pioneering and developing in South Africa, marking a period of deep integration and setting new benchmarks. It all began in May 1994, with the introduction of the first FAW Jiefang CA141 truck into the South African market, making FAW Trucks the first and only Chinese automotive brand at that time. In 2012, China FAW Group, in collaboration with the China-Africa Development Fund, increased its investment in South Africa and initiated the construction of the FAW South Africa Company’s KwaHlabisa Commercial Vehicle Assembly Plant with an annual production capacity of 5,000 units. This project received significant attention and support from both governments and was identified by China’s Ministry of Commerce as a key overseas investment project. On July 10, 2014, the KwaHlabisa Plant was officially commissioned, and to date, it has produced over 15,000 units of FAW trucks, making it the largest, most advanced, and most well-managed truck production facility in Southern Africa, earning it the title of “a model of cooperation between China and Africa.”
In the South African market, FAW Trucks’ terminal sales exceeded 3,000 units for the first time in 2023, with the delivery of the 1,000th FAW JH6 tractor unit for the year. By 2024, according to official data from the South African Commercial Vehicle Association, FAW South Africa sold over 1,500 units from January to April, a 54% year-on-year increase, with the high-end flagship JH6 tractor unit surpassing 700 units, a 146% year-on-year increase. This success allowed FAW Trucks to emerge as the market leader in a fiercely competitive environment alongside globally renowned commercial vehicle brands. Additionally, the KwaHlabisa Plant achieved a record-breaking monthly production of 400 units in April.
Over the past thirty years of deep-rooted presence in South Africa, FAW Trucks has established a comprehensive production, sales, and service operation system, with over 30 sales and service channels across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and other regions. The company has also set up spare parts warehouses and customer service centers to cater to the entire network, meeting the demands for after-sales service. Focusing on both the tractor and cargo markets, FAW Trucks has created a full value chain marketing strategy tailored to the needs of customers in Southern Africa, providing them with efficient and reliable comprehensive vehicle solutions, thereby continuously injecting vitality into Southern Africa’s construction and development.
Looking ahead, FAW Trucks will continue to increase its investment in the South African market, accelerate its overseas full-element layout, expand its product line, enhance its sales and service network, deepen financial cooperation, and comprehensively improve the competitive strength and brand influence of FAW trucks in the international market!
