Central to the conference was the unveiling of three new commercial vehicles engineered to target escalating on-farm operational, transport, and input logistics costs. The event also saw the finalisation of several strategic cross-border agreements, contracts, and delivery ceremonies aimed at accelerating the BAIC Group’s growth and distribution network across sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to the formal proceedings, the media and regional visitors were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the BAIC South Africa vehicle assembly plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone near Gqeberha. The plant is systematically introducing significant commercial vehicle assembly capacity through the group’s Foton subsidiary, positioning itself directly to support the logistical backbone of the agriculture sector.
New era of African manufacturing
The assembly plant, established as an R11 billion joint venture between China’s BAIC (65% stake) and South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (35%), has officially moved past its early sluggish phase.
Since full assembly line integration in January 2024, the plant has systematically increased its local parts-sourcing capabilities, tracking towards the South African Automotive Master Plan to 2035 target of 60% local component sourcing.
The covered 88 969m2 infrastructure houses a dedicated body shop, press shop, paint shop, and a final assembly line.
In his opening address at the conference, Ben Fouche BAIC South Africa deputy director of general management, outlined the facility’s expanded cross-border mandate.
“This facility is no longer just a localised point of assembly; it is actively being positioned as the primary manufacturing gateway to the rest of the African continent for right-hand drive vehicles,” he said.
Fouche emphasised that the co-manufacturing strategy with Foton would make the plant viable in the long-term and protect local jobs. South African citizens comprise more than 90% of the active production floor staff.
“We’re building where we sell, and we’re building for the future of African transport and agriculture,” he added.
Cost-to-value advantage
Beyond pure mechanical specifications, the primary advantage in Foton’s expanding local range lies in its aggressive market pricing. By leveraging assembly line efficiencies at the Gqeberha plant, the brand aims to deliver comparable payload, power, and tech specifications in premium double-cabs and specialised light trucks at a significantly lower purchase price than traditional, long-established competitors.
This pricing strategy is already evident in the brand’s current local line-up. The standard diesel mild-hybrid Tunland V9 double-cab tops out at R799 900, undercutting similarly-sized premium rivals by hundreds of rands. While official pricing for the Tunland V9 PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) will only be announced later, Foton management confirms it will maintain this competitive value structure.
Speaking about the introduction of the PHEV architecture to the agriculture sector, Gary van der Berg, Foton Motor South Africa’s manager for light commercial vehicles (LCVs), highlighted how this cost focus helps primary producers.
“The Tunland V9 PHEV is engineered to provide crucial benefits to the South African user. The bakkie can be used equally as an everyday all-rounder, an outdoor vehicle, and a heavy-duty farm vehicle,” he noted.
“By bringing this advanced, high-torque technology to market at a highly competitive purchase price, we’re ensuring the transition to low-emission, fuel-cautious operations doesn’t penalise the farmer’s bottom line. We’re offering premium utility and substantial input cost relief without the traditional brand mark-up,” Van der Berg said.
The Tunland V9 PHEV is scheduled for local commercial rollout in early 2027. For producers managing volatile diesel prices and rigorous farm security, input cost containment, and long-distance transport logistics, this vehicle introduces a completely revised powertrain dynamic to the full-size double-cab segment.
Its mechanical configuration pairs a 2ℓ, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with high-output front and rear electric motors, a 32,8kWh battery pack, and a specialised four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. The powertrain delivers a combined power output of 350kW and 800Nm of torque, providing the power required for heavy towing and demanding off-road conditions.
Its four-wheel-drive system, complemented by electronically controlled front and rear differential locks, enhances traction and off-road capability.
Fuel-efficiency dynamics
The primary benefit for agribusinesses lies in the Tunland V9 PHEV’s fuel-efficiency parameters. Foton claims that when operating the vehicle with a fully charged battery under optimal conditions, the combined average fuel consumption is 2ℓ/100 km.
A pure electric driving range of up to 110km allows routine daily tasks, such as checking boundary fences, water points, or completing short supply runs, to be executed entirely on battery power, mitigating daily fuel spend.
According to Van der Berg, the battery pack can be replenished from 30% to 80% capacity in 30 minutes via a DC fast charger, or fully charged overnight at the farmstead.
For long-range transport or livestock marketing trips, the internal combustion engine (ICE) eliminates range anxiety, extending the total combined driving range to 1 000km.
Even when operating in charge-sustaining mode (where the battery depletion causes the petrol engine to act as the primary driver), the hybrid architecture improves overall fuel efficiency by more than 30% compared with traditional ICEs in the same weight class.
Crucially for remote field work, the V9 features a vehicle-to-load 220V external power supply. This transformation turns the vehicle into a mobile power source, capable of powering power tools, welding equipment, or fencing apparel directly in the veld without requiring a standalone auxiliary generator.
The bakkie retains a robust 3,5t braked towing capacity, a 250mm ground clearance, and an 800mm water-wading depth.
Versatility in light logistics
Conference attendees were also presented with an expansive display of the whole range of Foton vehicles, including various options to support diversified farm operations that do not require full-scale heavy trucks.
The assembly expansion at the plant introduces a range of purpose-built LCVs. Central to this mid-tier logistical segment are the Foton Miler and Miler Lite. Positioned strategically between standard high-clearance bakkies and medium-duty freight hauliers, the Miler series addresses farmers’ need to transport intermediate payloads of inputs, equipment, or small-stock without excessive operating overheads.
The Miler Lite is specifically configured to allow anyone with a Code 8 driver’s licence to operate it on public roads. Despite its accessible classification, it maintains a robust 1,64t payload capacity.
For more demanding regional transport duties, the standard Foton Miler scales capabilities up to a 2,18t load rating. Both versions are powered by a 2ℓ turbo-diesel engine producing 92kW of power and 320Nm of torque, delivered through a five-speed manual gearbox.
Crucially, for diverse agricultural set-ups, the Miler line is offered in standard chassis cab format, open dropside utility configurations, fully enclosed box bodies, and specialised refrigerated bodies essential for cold-chain fruit or dairy distribution.
Hardworking micromobility
For general, everyday work duties within farm boundaries, nursery plots, or tight intensive farming infrastructure, the line-up includes the highly compact Foton Truckmate. Built around an affordable, low-maintenance footprint, the Truckmate functions as a dedicated farm utility asset for moving fencing poles, veterinary supplies, or picking crates across rough tracks.
Equipped with a fuel-efficient 1,5ℓ petrol engine delivering 82kW of power and 142Nm of torque, the Truckmate is engineered around structural economy. It features a heavily reinforced leaf spring rear suspension layout designed to reliably carry a 1,2t load in its wide-access dropside variation.
Like its larger stablemates, it benefits from the plant’s standardised safety tooling, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, and electric power steering to ensure secure handling under full load configurations across variable terrain.
Heavy commercial fleet expansion
The integration on the Gqeberha line extends into the heavy commercial vehicle sector with the preparation for local assembly of Foton Galaxus heavy-duty trucks, focusing on the C5 and R5 models unveiled at the conference.
The standout commercial fleet entrant is the right-hand drive Galaxus 6×4 tractor truck, featuring a technical gross combination mass rating of 55t. Powered by a heavy-duty Yuchai diesel engine paired with a Wanliyang 12-speed transmission and supported by dual fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 760ℓ, these heavy vehicles are positioned directly for high-volume bulk agricultural logistics, from inland silos to coastal ports.
