Interview with Teresita van Gaalen on how a - Autolive.co.za

Subscribe for free @www.autolive.co.za Page 18Working WheelsChinese showof strengthBy an amazing coincidence two of the big playersin the Chinese truck industry chose the sameday – September 6. Oddly enough it was also theday that Mercedes-Benz SA officially opened theirTruckStore. It was also a day of very inclementweather, cold and rainy.The events did not clash directly though, asDong Feng was in the morning <strong>with</strong> its event in thesouth of Johannesburg, TruckStore was at lunchtime in Centurion and FAW’s glamour event was atSoccer City in the early evening.New T-Lift model launchedDong Feng Africa Commercial Vehicles, whichtraded previously as DFM Warrior, is becomingmuch more aggressive in the South African marketplace judging by the launch function stagedin Johannesburg recently to launch its T-Lift extra-heavytruck, which joins the current range ofKinland truck-tractors and freighters and Kingrunmedium trucks.What one noticed was the number of visitingdignitaries from Dong Feng in China, including themanaging director Huang Gang. This was a suresign that the Chinese giant – largest of that country’struck makers – wants to get more serious aboutdoing business in Africa.The T-Lift 6x4 chassis-cab is powered by aCummins L375 20 Euro 2. 6-cylinder engine <strong>with</strong>a displacement of 8,9 litres and developing 275kW(375 hp) at 2 200r/min of power and 1 480N.m oftorque between 1 300 – 1 500r/min. It is well suitedto concrete mixer, tipper, compactor, logger andskip loader, according the Dong Feng executives.The T-Lift has a payload rating of up to 15tons on-road and 22 tons off-road in the tipperconfiguration.The Dong Feng trucks are assembled locally ata facility in Eikenhof, south of Johannesburg, andfitted <strong>with</strong> locally-made bodies.Priced at a very competitive R649 000 for thechassis/cab and the local Dong Feng Africa team isFAW’s management team at Soccer City last week.very bullish about the potential of this new modelin the SA market.The visiting Dong Feng executives were at painsto stress how large and successful the company isin the Chinese domestic market and in terms of itsglobal ranking, where it is second behind Daimler.FAW launches J6 truck-tractorThe FAW brand, <strong>with</strong> its eagle emblem, is preparingto soar even higher in South Africa as it fired anew salvo in its aim to become a major player in theSouth African and African truck markets, <strong>with</strong> thelaunch of its J6 extra-heavy truck-tractor at SoccerCity recently.“I was a trailblazer in bringing Chinese trucksto South Africa when I obtained the local franchisefor FAW and we opened for business in July 1993,”explained the managing director FAW VehicleManufacturers SA’s Richard Leiter.“This means we have had almost 20 years’ involvementin the marketing, sales and servicingof these trucks in Southern Africa and during thistime we have built up an FAW truck parc of almost10 000 vehicles. Since 2000 FAW of China has hadequity in the South African company.“We have also shown our commitment toSouth Africa <strong>with</strong> the erection of a manufacturingfacility in the Coega Industrial Development Zonenear Port Elizabeth. The plant will have an initialannual output of 5 000 trucks a year. This investmentalone amounts to more than R600-million,”said the local senior executive.The high profile launch at Soccer City was attendednot only by a large contingent of senior executivesfrom First Auto Works (FAW) in China,headed up by vice president Chunbo Dong, but alsoby local dignitaries including the Gauteng MEC foreconomic development, Nkosiphendule Kolisile,and the executive manager of the Coega IDZ,Christopher Mashigo.The FAW J6, which is targeting long-haul operations,is offered <strong>with</strong> a choice of a semi-sleepercontinued on next pageTo advertise incontactAngelina Michael on 083 228 6866 or email her at angelinamichael53@gmail.com