FAW Trucks paves Southern Africa's road to the future

Since its founding in 1953, China's First Automobile Works, better known as FAW, has been a pioneer of global commercial vehicle innovation. The automaker expanded its footprint into Southern Africa in 1994, introducing a range of commercial vehicles purpose-built for national conditions.

Over three decades later, FAW Trucks Southern Africa has evolved from a modest market entrant into a dominant force and a household name in the Southern African commercial vehicle sector — renowned for its strength, reliability, affordability, and excellent service.

From the outset, FAW's strategy in Southern Africa has been simple yet effective: provide a world-class truck at a local value proposition and support it through an ever-growing national footprint.

This customer-driven philosophy has seen FAW Trucks Southern Africa achieve record-breaking growth year after year, positioning it as a top-performing brand in the local commercial segment. Today, FAW Trucks holds the No 1 position in the heavy commercial vehicle segment in unit sales and continues to expand its leadership momentum.

A defining milestone in FAW's local legacy was the establishment of the state-of-the-art manufacturing plant at Coega in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Officially opened in 2014,the facility — built at a cost of over 600 million Rand ($34.93 million) — spans more than 30,000 square meters and employs over 300 local staff members.

This strategic investment not only cemented FAW's commitment to the Southern African economy but also positioned the brand as one of the few original equipment manufacturers with full manufacturing operations on the continent.The Coega plant has since produced over 20,000 locally assembled trucks, contributing meaningfully to regional supply chains and skills development in the automotive sector.

FAW's product range continues to lead the market in both innovation and value. The JH6 has become a benchmark for long-haul reliability and fuel efficiency, while the new flagship J7, to be launched in the coming year, will embody FAW's international standard for cutting-edge technology, comfort and performance — setting a new benchmark for premium trucking in Africa.

With a complete range of offerings, it is easy to see why FAW Trucks Southern Africa has steadily maintained the No 1 position within the local commercial market, reinforced by consecutive months of record-breaking sales seen in 2025.

Major fleet operators across logistics, mining, retail and construction — including leading names such as BHL Logistics, Super Group, and Bidvest — have integrated FAW trucks into their operations, citing exceptional uptime, competitive total cost of ownership, and responsive after-sales support.

These partnerships are supported by glowing testimonials from longstanding customers who regard FAW Trucks as the smart, reliable choice for new and established fleet owners growing their operations in the local market.

FAW Trucks Southern Africa's success story is built on strong local investment, dependable partnerships, and an unrelenting focus on customer satisfaction. With continuous infrastructure upgrades, the rollout of new dealer facilities, and strategic product launches designed for African roads, FAW is not only leading the way — it is reshaping the future of commercial transport across the continent.