Why Foton?
Having recognised a growing need for affordable, functional vehicles in South Africa, Foton recently entered the market with 3 of its commercial vehicle models: a Panel Van, the INKUNZI taxi, THUNDA bakkie and the soon to be launched TUNLAND.
Here are ten good reasons why we believe Foton is right up there with SA’s leading vehicle brands:
- Foton’s vehicles are affordable and functional
- Foton is backed by McCarthy, part of the Bidvest Group, and the Imperial Group
- Foton is the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer
- Foton is represented in 125 countries worldwide
- Foton offers a standard 3 year / 100,000km Warranty
- Plus a Nationwide Dealer and Service Network
- Foton vehicle parts are affordable and widely available
- Foton vehicles come standard with 3 year Roadside Assistance
- Service Plans Available
The future looks bright with Foton. Keep your eye on the brand to see what we have in store for every driver in the near future!
International
Since its foundation, Foton has always adhered to the ideas of human-oriented technology and independent innovation that keeps pace with advances in global technology.
Through the logical usage of our financial, human and intellectual resources, Foton has succeeded in integrating the world’s most advanced management and technical resources to create and share with our customers the valuable achievements brought about by global human technology.
At Foton we keep challenging our creativity, and have never stopped exploring the future while offering our customers high-quality products and services. In the process of promoting business development, we have held to the strategy of sustainable development. We work together with our customers to create a better future, ensuring that every driver in the world is proud to own a car with our blazing diamond logo on it.
http://english.foton.com.cn/
Joint ventures
In January 2009, Foton and Daimler signed a cooperation agreement which, by July 2009, had matured into a CNY6.35 billion (R8.02 billion) joint venture. This agreement has significantly improved Foton’s production capacity for heavy duty trucks.
In June 2009, Foton and Cummins Engine Co., Ltd signed a CNY 2.7 billion (R3.41 billion) joint venture agreement to set up a factory with an annual production capacity of 400,000 engines. This factory has become one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated light-duty engine manufacturing facilities in China. From this facility, Foton light commercial vehicles are equipped with one of the best engines in the world in terms of both emission reductions and performance.
Foton has established long-term cooperative relationships with a number of other overseas partners on various projects. Such partners include AVL Austria, BOSCH Germany, Lotus UK, MIM Japan, Motorola US, Weston Japan, Eaton US, and Visteon, among others, in order to ensure that every vehicle produced by Foton boasts the very latest technological innovations, delivering optimum performance, superior safety features, enhanced functionality and unparalleled affordability to consumers the world over.
Research and Development & New Energy Vehicles
Foton has set up a world-class research centre for alternative energies. It focuses on technologies for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles and high-efficiency engines. It has already produced outstanding results. Foton is now the leader in China for alternative-energy powered commercial vehicles. New energy vehicle sales reached 2,000 units in 2010. These units were sold directly to municipalities and individuals, or used in sustainable transportation projects around the world. New energy products include hybrid and pure electric city buses, pure electric road sweepers and pure electric taxis.
There are 3,500 researchers working in Foton’s 9 research centres. The surface areas of those facilities will more than double in the near future. The Foton Core Research Centre has experienced tremendous successes. Foton holds hundreds of design and invention patents.
ach of Foton’s vehicle series have been upgraded as a result of such research, with passenger vehicles having benefited the most.
Foton now plans to set up R&D centres in Europe and Japan. This will help Foton increase its innovation capacity in the fields of manufacturing, electronic control and hydraulic technologies. Foton plans to create more research units in the future to cater to innovation needs in overseas markets.