Foton Motor South Africa New Products and Strategy Release Launch
Foton South Africa is bringing in the heat in the commercial and bakkie space with some new products and strategies to shake up the market. We saw a few models that should pique your interest.
Foton forms part of the BAIC group established in 1958 with an increasing global foothold. There’s a focus on providing vehicles, parts, service and trade, and a complete industrial chain. Beiqi Foton has been one of the largest commercial vehicle enterprises in China since its formation in 1996. At the time of typing this, there are at least 18 R&D centres globally, 16 vehicle factories and 6 parts warehouses in China. There are 7 factories planned for overseas. On the African side of the story, there’s a significant push for commercial vehicles with manufacturing in South Africa as part of the plan, and CMH (Combined Motor Holdings) is the exclusive partner for Foton distribution in South Africa.
As you’d tend to see with newer model lineups of the Chinese variety, there’s a spread of new energy vehicles as well as ICE to cover as many bases as possible.
Models to pique your interest
Foton Tunland G7
The Tunland G7 makes its way to South Africa in both single and double-cab formats. Featuring a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine co-developed with Cummins making 120 kW and 390 Nm, either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, and you can have the double cab bakkies in either 4×2 or 4×4 fascia. The single cab is only available in 4×2. Ground clearance is rated at 210 mm.
Inside both the double and single cab variants, you’ll find a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible and a digital instrument cluster. HVAC controls are analogue buttons and operation. The single cab has a payload of over 1000 kg, and both single and double cab variants can tow up to 3000 kg. This vehicle is backed by a 5-year/200 000km warranty. This is just the information we have so far, and there will be more to come at the official launch of the Tunland G7.
Tunland G7 Pricing
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton Tunland G7 Single Cab 4×2 | from R319 900 |
| Foton Tunland G7 Double Cab 4×2 TL Manual | from R399 900 |
| Foton Tunland G7 Double Cab 4×2 TL Auto | from R469 900 |
| Foton Tunland G7 Double Cab 4×2 TLX Auto | from R499 900 |
| Foton Tunland G7 Double Cab 4×4 TLX Auto | from R559 900 |
| Foton Tunland G7 Double Cab 4×4 LTD AT | from R599 900 |
Foton Asambe and View CS2
We have the Asambe 16-seater taxi and luxury shuttle View CS2 15-seater to cover the minibus segment. The View is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine making 101 kW and 330 Nm, sending power via a 6-speed auto. There’s a single sliding door to access the other seating in the bus. The Asambe either comes with a petrol 2.4-litre non-turbo engine making 100 kW and 200 Nm paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. You can also have a diesel engine co-developed with Cummins that produces 96 kW and 280 Nm as well. The Asambe is backed by a 2-year/200 000km warranty.
Asambe and View CS2 pricing
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton View CS2 Asambe 2.4 Petrol Manual | from R439 900 |
| Foton View CS2 Asambe 2.8 Diesel Manual | from R499 900 |
| Foton View CS2 2.0 Luxury Auto | from R599 900 |
Other Commercial Foton Offerings Unveiled
Foton eTruck Mate
We have two EV offerings. The eTruck Mate is a light commercial vehicle with an EV powertrain utilising a lithium-ion phosphate battery with a capacity of 38.64 kWh and an NEDC-claimed range of 280 km. The permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 60 kW and 200 Nm. Charging times for DC are rated at 1 and a half hours and 7 hours on AC.
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton eTruck Mate | from R575 000 |
| Foton eTruck Mate | from R595 000 |
Foton eView Panelvan
There is an EV version of the View in panel van form, which also utilises dual sliding doors. You can expect 85 kW and 290 Nm with a battery capacity of 50.23 kWh.
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton eView Panelvan | from R850 000 |
Foton eAumark
The eAumark is another EV LCV with a Permanent Synchronous Magnet motor producing 115 kW and 300 Nm, a battery capacity of 81.14 kWh, and a maximum payload of 3570 kg.
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton eAumark Chassis Cab | from R1 199 900 |
| Foton eAumark Dropside | from R1 250 000 |
Foton Miler
Finally, the Miler is an ICE LCV with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine making 92 kW and 320 Nm, a 5-speed manual transmission, and a max GCM of 4495 kg.
| Model | Pricing |
| Foton Miler Chassis Cab | from R339 900 |
| Foton Miler Dropside | from R359 900 |
*Pricing stated here was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.
