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 South African market.

FAW SA has made a major commitment in the last four years amounting to over $100 million in local plant, infrastructure, job creation and training.

Renowned build quality

The Coega-based plant and body-building facility, which has only been in full operation for just over three years, has become renowned for its built quality since it first opened in July 2014.

Subsequently it 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.

This most recent achievement was pegged in the calendar earlier this month when the Coega plant employees cheered as the 3 000th locally built truck was signed off at the last quality inspection gate, giving rightful claim to the company’s motto – “Built in South Africa, for Africa.”

Service and support in the Africa region

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.”

The Coega-plant has also been the bedrock for further investments in the Eastern Cape region as a number of China-based industrial giants have visited Coega to see first-hand what the region can offer in infrastructure, logistics and labour.