On October 29, BAIC FOTON held its Africa Partners Conference under the theme "Drive to Great" in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. As part of the event, the company organized a tour of the BAIC South Africa Plant and test drives of its vehicle lineup for nearly 700 distributors, key customers and industry partners from 42 African countries.

The activities gave participants a closer look at BAIC FOTON's local manufacturing operations, product range and vehicle performance in South Africa.

As competition in the global commercial vehicle market grows, exporting vehicles alone is no longer enough for brands expanding overseas. Local manufacturing, products suited to local operating conditions and consistent quality are also important. BAIC FOTON is expanding its overseas operations through investment in manufacturing, technology and product development.

Local Manufacturing at the BAIC South Africa Plant

Located in the Coega Development Zone in Port Elizabeth, the BAIC South Africa Plant is an important manufacturing base for BAIC Group in Africa. During the visit, guests learned about the company's progress in local production and the development of both passenger and commercial vehicles in South Africa.

BAIC passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles produced at the South African plant were displayed together. The display highlighted the role of local manufacturing in supporting regional vehicle supply and cooperation between passenger- and commercial-vehicle operations.

The plant currently has welding, painting and final assembly capabilities.

FOTON trucks began SKD production at the plant in January 2025. In March 2025, the first AUMAN heavy-duty tractor was trial-assembled and rolled off the production line. By the end of August 2025, SKD production of FOTON trucks had moved into mass production. At the end of September 2025, FOTON pickups began small-batch CKD trial production.

The start of local truck production marks a further step in BAIC FOTON's development in Africa, extending its business beyond vehicle sales to local manufacturing. This will help the company serve regional customers, better adapt its products to local conditions and strengthen cooperation with local industry partners.

A Wide Range of Vehicles for Different Transport Needs

At the racetrack's vehicle display area, BAIC FOTON presented heavy-duty trucks, light trucks, pickups and vans. Guests had the opportunity to take a closer look at the vehicles, their designs, technical features and intended applications.

The vehicles and solutions on display covered a range of transport needs, including long-haul logistics, construction transport, and urban and rural deliveries.

The lineup covered a wide range of transport and work applications. BAIC FOTON is continuing to adapt its products to Africa's varied road conditions and operating needs, offering local customers more choices for different transport tasks.

Track Activities Demonstrate Vehicle Performance

Power and handling are important factors for commercial vehicle customers. At the racetrack's closed drift area, two TUNLAND G7 pickups performed a series of driving demonstrations. These included forward and reverse 360-degree spins, as well as 180-degree turns performed by the two vehicles in opposite directions. The demonstrations showed the pickups' power and handling capabilities.

The test-drive program included four areas for pickups, heavy-duty trucks, light trucks and vans. Guests took part in groups and tested different models, experiencing their power, handling and ride comfort. The activities also gave participants a better understanding of how the vehicles perform under different operating conditions.

Several African partners said that the plant tour and vehicle experiences gave them a better understanding of BAIC FOTON's local manufacturing capabilities and product quality, strengthening their confidence in the company.

Representatives from major customers also said they were impressed by the power and handling of the vehicles, as well as their ability to handle challenging road conditions in Africa. The test drives gave them a clearer understanding of the products and provided a more practical basis for future cooperation.

The plant tour and test drives took place before the official opening of the Africa Partners Conference. By visiting the manufacturing facility and experiencing the vehicles firsthand, participants gained a better understanding of BAIC FOTON's operations and products in South Africa. The activities also helped prepare the ground for business discussions and cooperation during the conference.

BAIC FOTON will continue to expand local production in South Africa, adapt its products to regional market needs and strengthen cooperation with African partners. The company aims to provide commercial vehicles and services that better meet the needs of customers across the African market.

Source : www.chinatrucks.org

Editor : Linda

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Tags : FOTON South Africa