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• 2023 will see FAW Trucks celebrate 30 years in South Africa.
• The brand plans on producing their 15 000th unit during the course of the year.
• 2023 will see FAW Trucks launch a number of new models.

Johannesburg, 2022 – 2022 was a bumper year for FAW Trucks South Africa with a number of key achievements that saw the brand firmly stamp its authority on the South African commercial vehicle market. 

FAW remains committed to offering its customers high quality products, that are well suited to local conditions and users and come standard with high levels of safety, convenience and comfort, while representing excellent value for money.

FAW Trucks are inherently fuel-efficient and in June this was confirmed when a JH6 28.500FT, was put to the test on an identical route against some of the best brands in the country and went on to claim second place in the Focus Transport Truck Test.

In August, FAW Trucks was awarded silver status at the NADA DSi awards, which highlights the importance that the organisation places on its relationship with its dealer network. 

In February FAW Trucks surpassed the 8000th unit of production and this momentum continued throughout the year, with the 10 000th unit rolling off the production line in November, just eight years since the plant in Coega, Gqeberha began production.

Despite these significant achievements FAW Trucks are not resting on their laurels and are already looking forward to achieving even greater success in 2023.

In 2023 FAW plan to introduce a number of new models in all segments, further expanding the already comprehensive product offering and ensuring that they can continue to meet the needs of the South African customers, with a wide variety of solutions and the latest technology, across all segments of the commercial vehicle industry.

One of FAW Trucks biggest goals for 2023 is to surpass 15 000 units of production. The manufacturing facility recently invested in a number of new employees in order to meet their recent production milestones and will integrate this additional manpower while also incorporating modifications to the existing factory processes and technology in order to meet these targets. 

“The fact that there are plans in place to reach our 15 000th unit of production in such a short space of time, is purely based on demand for the product by local customers who value our built in Africa, for Africa strategy, says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

FAW Trucks will also be expanding their dealer network to ensure that they have widespread representation throughout South Africa to meet this growing demand. This will include the opening of new dealers in a number of new as well as existing locations. These dealers will include both fully fledged sales and service dealers as well as dealers focused solely on service as the brand endeavours to improve their parts and aftersales distribution and servicing ability, especially in close to proximity to large fleet owners or operations.

FAW Trucks look forward to celebrating their 30th year in South Africa in 2023. Over three decades they have grown in popularity and market share by offering customers products that represent excellent value for money in the extra-heavy, heavy, medium and light commercial vehicle segments and they will continue to do so.

“2023 is set to be a massive year for FAW Trucks and we look forward to celebrating our 30th year by continuing to deliver on our core values, while at the same time improving our offering in all areas, including manufacturing, the dealer network and our product offering,” concludes Li.

• FAW Trucks appeals to all road users to drive safely this festive season.
• Patience and respect is key to heavy and passenger vehicles coexisting safely.
• The FAW Trucks model range is designed with safety in mind.

Johannesburg, 2022 – South Africa has one of the highest road death rates of any country in the world and the bulk of these deaths occur during the festive season. FAW Trucks believe that a little bit of prior planning and patience towards other road users can go along way in making our roads safer.

FAW Trucks take road safety very seriously and do their utmost to offer vehicles that are safe as well as a variety of initiatives to ensure that they remain safe and to promote road safety

For example, safety is inherent to the design of every FAW Truck in their extensive model range. Visibility is key to safe driving and FAW has gone to great lengths to optimise visibility for drivers, this includes A-pillars that are as narrow as possible as well as large windows and windscreens. Rear view mirrors incorporate multi angle, multi mirrors, allowing drivers to also see what is alongside them at road surface level. Large sun visors provide relief when driving at dawn or dusk. Exterior touches include large powerful headlights as well as cab top daytime running lights which all contribute to seeing and being seen in low light conditions.

FAW Trucks believe that one of the first steps towards road safety is using the right vehicle for the job and their wide range of vehicles allows users to tick this box easily. The FAW Trucks model range includes turn key solutions for a number of industries with models in a variety of configurations that cater for the freight carrying, truck tractors as well as a range of tippers an mixers that are ready to work. Fit for purpose models make it easy to comply with loading needs and regulations, road conditions and different usage requirements.

“FAW Trucks are designed with safety in mind however the increased traffic loads on major routes mean that it is imperative that both heavy-duty vehicle operators and regular motorists drive with extra caution during this period to avoid unnecessary accidents and fatalities,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

Don’t drink and drive

Many South Africans like to unwind over the festive season by indulging in alcoholic beverages and this is a big contributor to fatalities on our roads. The bottom line is that drinking and driving do not mix, especially when you operating a heavy commercial vehicle. Fleet managers should do their utmost to prevent this and take swift action against any offenders.

Many drunken pedestrians also contribute to this statistic and commercial vehicle operators need to be aware of pedestrians who might be under the influence especially when travelling at night in close proximity to towns and cities.

Avoid overloading

Overloading is another big contributing factor to the festive season death toll. Overloading, especially of trailers can lead to axle or tyre failure with catastrophic effects for the tow vehicle and other road users and needs to be avoided at all costs. Operators need to make sure that they adhere to the total permissible weights as well as axle weights. Overloading is not only dangerous but operators could face hefty fines, increased maintenance costs and can shorten the lifespan of their equipment considerably.

Avoid peak times

It is a given that the major highways and byways leading to holiday destinations are going to be busier, so factor that in to the travel time of any trips that you will be doing. If at all possible, try and avoid peak days and times. These include the 16th and 24th of December as well as the 2nd of January and the weekend before school’s resume.

Ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy

While not limited to the festive season, it is essential to ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before hitting the road, this will ensure that you reach your destination without any hiccups, will prevent any unroadworthy components from causing an accident and will make legislated roadworthy tests a breeze. The FAW Trucks dealer network will carry out these safety checks at no charge, assisting owners in ensuring that their vehicles are well maintained, in a good condition and safe to operate. These safety checks include the inspection of safety critical components such as tyres, brakes, shocks and windscreens. These components on trailers are just as critical to the overall safety of vehicles and loads. FAW Trucks have a well stocked Parts Distribution Centre  of genuine replacement parts, should anything need replacing and will continue to deliver to their dealer network on a daily basis throughout the festive season in an effort to minimise any potential downtime.

Motorists need to be patient

FAW Trucks appeals to motorists to be patient and treat heavy commercial vehicles with respect when on their holiday journey to ensure that everyone arrives safely where they need to be.

Motorists need to keep in mind that they are sharing the road with vehicles that outclass them in weight by thousands of kilograms. Heavy vehicles need a much longer distance to come to a stop and will very often leave adequate room between themselves and the vehicle in front of them in order to come to a stop safely. Motorists need to avoid seeing that as a gap that they can fill with their car.

The blind spot behind a truck is also significant and the general rule of thumb is that if you can’t see the side mirrors of the truck, the truck driver can’t see you.

Motorists should remember that commercial vehicles have different speed limits according to their weight, which can be 100km/h or 80km/h, so while it might seem like they are driving slowly, they are simply adhering to the law.

“Motorists need to realise that they are going on holiday on the roads that heavy duty operators rely on to earn their salary, a little bit of patience and respect will ensure that everyone gets to their destination safely,” concludes Li.

• The 10 000th FAW truck has rolled out of the FAW Trucks assembly plant in Gqeberha.
• FAW Trucks continues to be a big contributor to the Eastern Cape economy.
• The production facility produces the entire FAW Trucks model range.

Johannesburg, 2022 – FAW Trucks offer a locally produced model range that continues to represent robust solutions and excellent value for money in the extra-heavy, heavy, medium and light commercial segments of the South African vehicle market. The popularity of the FAW Trucks model range has been endorsed by the fact that the 10 000th unit has rolled off their production line in just eight years.

FAW Trucks SA, which has been present in South Africa for 28 years now, consists of joint investments by FAW group and CADFund. FAW Trucks soon realised that their vehicles meet the needs of South African and African users and commenced construction of a manufacturing plant in Coega, Gqeberha in 2012.

In 2012 this investment totalled R600 million and the 30 000m2 facility includes a state of the art training facility, a body shop and a paint shop. Vehicle production commenced in 2014 and now eight years later the 10 000th unit has rolled off the production line just a few months after the plant celebrated the production of their 8000th unit.

“The last eight years, following the opening of our production facility, saw the brand enter a period of rapid growth within the highly competitive commercial vehicle market. All models are assembled to extremely high standards in order to withstand the harsh conditions of the African continent as they continue to deliver on the promise of a truck built in South Africa for Africa,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa

The production facility employs a staff compliment from the local communities within the operation of Production, Technical & Quality, Operations and Supply Chain, Finance and Human Resources Departments. The current production variety includes seven different models, which are produced at a capacity of approximately 200 units per month.

The completion of the 10 000th locally produced model follows in the wake of on going sales success and record sales in the last two quarters. Fittingly the 10 000th model is a JH6 28.500FT, this 6×4 AMT Truck Tractor is one of the most popular models in the FAW line up and a big contributor to the continued growth of the brand in a variety of segments, including mining, and long haul operations.

The attendance of a variety of ministers and government officials at the line off ceremony reaffirms the importance of this production facility in the Eastern Cape’s automotive industry and the value of its continuous investment in the region thanks to the sales success of reliable Chinese products that have become an integral part of the African commercial vehicle landscape.

In attendance at the roll off ceremony were the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Mr Retief Odendaal; MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Mlungisi Mvoko and the Acting Consul General of the Chinese Consulate-General to Cape Town, Changan Tang. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel and Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Xiaodong Chen delivered messages of congratulations virtually.

“Whilst we are proud of being able to surpass the 10 000 production mark in only eight years, we are only just getting up to speed. There are plans in place to ramp up production, in order to meet demand, which should see us surpass the 15 000 mark before the end of 2023,” says Li.

FAW Trucks recently expanded their model range with the addition of the new JH6 33.420FT 6×4 truck tractor, giving customers even more choice when shopping for the correct solution for their particular needs.

Integral to the success of any brand is a well-established dealer network. FAW Trucks recently received Silver status at the NADA DSi awards, which is indicative of the growing confidence by their dealer body in the locally produced product range as well as the service and relationship between the manufacturer and their dealer network.

• Tippers are one of the hardest workers in the trucking industry.
• Well maintained vehicles are key to limiting downtime.
• FAW offers a range of Tippers catering for every load carrying need.

Johannesburg, 26 October 2022, Tippers are one of the true workhorses of the commercial vehicle industry, carrying heavy loads in conditions that are less than ideal. Every load represents money, making a reliable vehicle critical to the running of a profitable operation.

“While FAW’s range of Tippers are designed especially for the conditions in which they are required to operate, the way vehicles are used and looked after can make a big difference. If you treat your vehicles well, they will reward you with many trouble free kilometres, a lower cost of ownership and less downtime,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

The following simple, yet often overlooked advice could go a long way in ensuring that every load is delivered on time.

Avoid overloading

Overloading is one of the quickest ways to shorten the life of your vehicle and is best avoided at all costs. The maximum load weight is carefully calculated, taking into consideration, axles, suspension and Tipper construction and it is best adhered to if you hope to get many reliable kilometres from your truck as well as remain within the law. Overloading will also have a detrimental effect on running costs as it is sure to result in increased fuel consumption and tyre wear. It is very important to ensure that you have the right vehicle for the job. FAWs range of vehicles cater for a wide variety of load carrying ability, so rather than overworking a smaller, less capable vehicle invest in the right vehicle for your application, it will be beneficial in the long run.

Keep it clean

Commercial vehicles in the Tipper configuration often operate in less than ideal conditions. Cleaning vehicles on a daily or weekly basis is important to ensuring their longevity. Moving parts like axles, brakes and Tipper struts should be washed clean of dust and mud, if not it could have a serious effect on these sensitive yet vital components. The cabin is the driver’s office and should be kept clean just like a normal office is, all loose items should be removed on a daily basis, touch surfaces wiped down and seats and flooring vacuumed. The accumulation of dirt will accelerate wear and tear and a dirty truck is not conducive to a good corporate image. The interior of FAW vehicles is constructed with hard wearing, premium materials, that ensure a comfortable working environment but which are also easy to keep clean

Use telematics

Telematics is vital to running an efficient operation whether your fleet consists of two or 200 trucks. These advanced systems are able to give fleet managers real time updates on a variety of factors including location and speed. They are a great way to monitor and improve driving behavior and productivity. Telematics is an excellent tool for managing loads as it can assist by preventing overloading, ensuring vehicles are kept in pre determined zones by means of geo fencing and even prevent the load from being tipped in unauthorized locations. In that way it ensures safety of vehicles, driver and the load.

Stick to the maintenance schedule

For vehicles like Tippers that operate in extreme conditions such as high temperature or dusty environments regular maintenance is key. FAW has carefully calculated the recommended service intervals required to ensure the longevity of your purchase and adhering to these is critical. In addition, vehicles that continuously operate in extremely dusty conditions might require more regular maintenance of items like air filters. Telematics systems are able to help fleet managers stay on top of maintenance and servicing by monitoring hours used and kilometres driven, allowing for the planning of periodic maintenance in a manner that minimises the impact on productivity.

A solution for every need

FAW offers a wide range of vehicles that are sold with Tipper bodies already installed. Each model has been carefully configured taking into consideration the Tipper bin and the weight that it is able to carry, resulting in solutions that are fit for purpose. 

FAW offers Tippers ranging from 3 cubes to 18 cubes, all with the appropriate axles and engines to back up this load carrying ability. Thanks to this wide variety of Tippers there is one for every need.

The FAW 8.140D is a three-cube solution that features a six-ton body and payload allowance. It boasts a spacious ergonomically designed cab and Cummins ISF3.8S common rail diesel engine mated to a six-speed ZF manual transmission.

The FAW 15.180FD can carry six cubes as part of its 10-ton body and payload allowance. A spacious, ergonomically designed, semi-sleeper cab ensures excellent driver comfort. Powering this model is a FAW six-cylinder in-line turbocharged and intercooled engine paired to a FAW six-speed fully synchromesh manual transmission.

The J5N 28.290FD has a 10-cube carrying capacity in its 850 high strength steel Tipper bucket, making it ideal for a variety of applications including construction. A fully floating, ergonomically designed cab is equipped with a reinforced bumper. Powering things along is a Weichai WP10 six-cylinder in-line turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine paired with a nine-speed fully synchromesh manual transmission.

The J5N 33.340FD is a robust 15.5-cube hub-reduction Tipper that is ideal for mining applications. It features a Weichai six-cylinder in-line turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine mated to a FAW nine-speed synchromesh manual transmission.

The J5N 35.340FD 18-cube is the largest of the FAW Tipper offerings with its 18-cube Tipper body, constructed from 850 high-strength steel, making it ideal for construction applications. It too is powered by a Weichai WP10 six-cylinder inline turbocharged and intercooled diesel engine paired to a nine-speed fully synchromesh manual transmission.

“Thanks to FAW’s manufacturing facility in Coega, Gqberha, we are in a unique position of being able to offer our customers a turn key Tipper solution that is built in Africa for Africa and is ready to work, with no aftermarket alterations required,” concludes Li.

• FAW offer a range of vehicles suited for every commercial vehicle need.
• FAW’s range of vehicles have been optimised to ensure optimum driver visibility.
• Being able to see and being seen are crucial to road safe driving.

Johannesburg, 12 October 2022, Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are very quick to become impatient with heavy commercial vehicles but have you ever stopped to think about the impact that these vehicles have on our economy. That very truck that you are annoyed with because they are driving slowly or are quick to push in front of in the traffic might be carrying your lunch, groceries or building supplies for houses or offices in your neighbourhood.

It is very important to remember that heavy vehicles are limited by law to 80 or 100km/h depending on their size so there is no point in getting annoyed as the driver is most probably just obeying the speed limit.

What motorists, cyclists and pedestrians need to remember is that the visibility from the driver’s seat of a heavy commercial vehicle is not always ideal. The height of commercial vehicles does mean that they offer a great view of the road ahead when travelling in a straight line, however visibility can be seriously hampered in other areas. Due to their height, in many cases, visibility in close proximity and alongside the vehicle is rather limited. In addition load boxes or trailers limit rearward visibility substantially, especially when it comes to bigger wider vehicles.

The golden rule is that if you can’t make eye contact with the driver he probably can’t see you and if you are following a heavy commercial vehicle and can’t see their rear view mirrors, it is impossible for the driver to see you.

“While these blind spots are inherent to the design of commercial vehicles, FAW has gone to great lengths to optimise visibility for drivers and in that way make our vehicles safer and easier for drivers to use,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

This includes A-pillars that are as narrow as possible and large windows and windscreens resulting in excellent 180-degree visibility. Rear view mirrors incorporate multi angle, multi mirrors that enhance rearward visibility while also allowing drivers to see what is alongside them at road surface level. Large sun visors are a big advantage when travelling at dawn or dusk. Driver’s seats offer a myriad of adjustment options, allowing the driver to optimise their seating position both in terms of ergonomics and visibility.

On the exterior, large powerful headlights, supplemented by cab top daytime running lights allow trucks to see and be seen in low light conditions.

Fleet operators should carefully consider which type of commercial vehicles they are using for which application. For example driving a long haul tractor with 60 tons on a trailer in the inner city will greatly increase the risk of incidents or accidents. Bigger fleets will generally rely on a variety of vehicles that are better suited to all the specific road and traffic conditions in the logistics supply chain.

FAW offer a range of vehicles catering for every need, including a range of freight carriers ranging from 3.5 to 13.5 tons, a variety of truck tractors in 4×2 and 6×4 configuration, Tippers ranging from 3 to 18 cubes as well as 6 and 8 cube mixers.

“Ultimately when a large variety of vehicles with varying speeds and dynamic ability are using the same piece of road there will be some risk, but utilising the right vehicle for the job in the correct manner will go a long way in reducing that risk,” concludes Li.

Ends

• 2022 saw the 8000^th local produced FAW roll off their Coega production line to date.
• FAW continues to offer durable vehicles that represent excellent value for money.
• FAW is now a well respected player in the local and regional commercial vehicle industry.

Johannesburg, 2022 – This year sees FAW Trucks celebrate 29 years in South Africa and during that time they have become a fixture in the South African commercial vehicle industry.

FAW Trucks prides itself in offering a line up of vehicles that are robust and which represent an excellent value for money proposition with derivatives in the extra-heavy, heavy, medium and light commercial market segments. FAW vehicles have been utilised to build schools, hospitals and are depended on to transport critical goods on a daily basis and in that way they have crept into the hearts of South Africans.

Built locally for local conditions

Since its local introduction FAW Trucks has always been committed to South Africa and its people. This was backed up by a decision in 2012 to invest locally and open a manufacturing plant in Coega, Gqberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

At the time this investment was one of the largest by a Chinese company in South Africa. The plant, which was built at a cost of R600 million covers 30 000m² features a state of the art training facility, a body shop and a paint shop. In 2014 the first vehicle rolled off that assembly line and they have never looked back.

The FAW Trucks manufacturing facility is a substantial employer in the Eastern Cape, providing large amounts of employment to residents of the local Gqberha community both in its own facility as well as within those of local suppliers on which it relies.

The FAW Trucks manufacturing facility has gone from strength to strength and earlier this year the 8000^th locally assembled vehicle rolled of their Coega assembly line.

FAW Trucks has enjoyed remarkable growth due to its reputation for offering quality products that are able to cater to the unique usage requirements of South African commercial vehicle buyers. A big advantage is their ability to easily refine that offering thanks to the presence of a local manufacturing facility. FAW has let its products speak for themselves and the result is a brand that regularly outperforms its major competitors on the sales charts.

Exceptional value for money

In a market that is facing enormous pressure from external factors such as rising interest rates, fuel prices and global supply chain constraints FAW Trucks continue and will continue to offer local buyers a range of vehicles that have the durability and longevity to make it in the tough South African working environment while at the same time being affordable both in terms of purchase price and total cost of ownership. By achieving those targets the FAW Trucks product offering continues to represent excellent value for money.

“Highlights from our 29 year local history include the launch of the FAW 13.160 flat nose model in 1999, the launch of the J5 in 2005 and the launch of the 8.140FL in 2015. This model was critical in FAW Trucks becoming an established player, particularly in the heavy vehicle segment of the commercial vehicle market. A proud heritage indeed,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

South Africans are known for voting with their wallets and they have no problem putting their hard earned money behind FAWs commercial vehicle offering.

In the first quarter of 2021, the Chinese brand took the top spot in the Heavy Commercial segment of the South African market for the first time and to date they continue to maintain a strong foothold in the market by continuously outselling a number of more established brands

After sales is critically important when it comes to customer satisfaction and retention. In 2018 FAW Trucks received the Most Improved Award in the commercial vehicle category of the NADA Dealer Satisfaction Survey and have continued to rank highly in subsequent surveys, with a silver award at the most recent announcement. This survey rates the relationship between manufacturers and dealers, which is critical for the growth and longevity of a brand.

• A significant improvement from last year
• Closer liaison between FAW Trucks and its dealers pays dividends
• Dependable parts supply and aftersales service as important as product reliability

Johannesburg – 25 August 2022 – The Silver status awarded to FAW Trucks following the recent announcement of the results of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) shows clearly growing confidence by the dealer body in the products and service emanating from the company.

“This is a milestone achievement for our company and we are extremely proud of the results and of our entire dealer network,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa. “From being given a Bronze award last year to Silver this year also means we are hearing what our dealers are saying about the working relationship we have – and we are taking steps to resolve any issues.”

The Commercial Vehicle survey was first added to the NADA DSI in 2008. Since then, the highest overall average score of 78% was recorded in 2018. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 survey was suspended and resumed in 2021. The 2022 overall Commercial score has improved from 75,4 in 2021 to 77,2 in 2022, the second highest score achieved since the inception of this study.

“The NADA DSI survey, now in its 26^th year, is carried out annually to monitor the health of the relationship between dealers and their respective manufacturers. It provides the dealer body with a platform to provide manufacturers and importers with robust feedback.

“Over the years, the outcomes of the survey have been used by dealer councils and manufacturers as an effective management tool to address areas of concern and improve service delivery throughout the entire value chain to the ultimate benefit of consumers,” says Mark Dommisse, Chairperson of NADA.

“The reason for our continued growth and success in South Africa is that we cater for virtually every need,” explains Li. “With a host of different engine capacities, payload allowances and body options on offer, businesses big and small can rely on our products to get the job done.”

All FAW Trucks products are covered by a comprehensive warranty at industry standards, ensuring customers have complete peace of mind in their purchases. The FAW warranty provides customers with the assurance that FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa stands behind its claim of quality manufacturing.

FAW Trucks has a large parts warehouse at its premises in Spartan, from where it supplies the three  main regions in Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town. In addition, service dealers are fully equipped, with highly trained technicians on hand for complete servicing and repairs required for all models from the renowned Chinese manufacturer.

“FAW is a major player in the trucking business. Since the 1990s, we have partnered with other major manufacturers, ensuring we put our customers first. Our production and logistics networks aim for sustainable growth,” says Pieter Janse Van Rensburg – General Manager: Dealer Network FAW Trucks SA. “Thus, our trucks are not isolated in design and manufacturing expertise and, neither is our service network.”

FAW Trucks recently further expanded its comprehensive range with the introduction of the new JH6 33.420FT 6×4 truck tractor, further widening the scope of choices for customers. This going hand-in-hand with the launch of an online booking system for services.

“Since first entering the South African market 28 years ago, we have gone from strength to strength, providing local buyers with products of high quality that are not only well suited to local conditions, but also boast high levels of safety, convenience and comfort. We have managed to combine this with competitive pricing, low running costs and continuously improving aftersales service – this all made easier by the fact we are a South African manufacturer,” says Li.

“I wish to extend my thanks to our dealers and assure them we both value their feedback and are determined to keep doing better.”

Caption: L-R – Allan Wang – Director of Sales and Marketing FAW Trucks SA, Pieter Janse Van Rensburg – General Manager – Dealer Network FAW Trucks SA, Mr Li Yongjun – CEO of FAW Trucks SA

• FAW Trucks is an equal opportunities company
• Women play a vital role in the structure and success of the company

Johannesburg – 18 August 2022 – Women are a major driving force at FAW Trucks South Africa, occupying leading positions in almost every department within the company and, while celebrating August as Women’s Month, believes it actually celebrates the contribution by women every working day of the year.

“The women we have working in our company play a huge role in the success we have since opening our doors in South Africa,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa. “Their dedication, expertise and hard work is appreciated by everyone in the organisation and, I thank them on behalf of the company for everything they are doing.”

But, who are these women?

KIRSHA KRISHNA: Digital Marketing Specialist

Kirsha is hugely enthusiastic about her job that comes with a massive responsibility, as she is responsible for all marketing communication from FAW Trucks South Africa and is the custodian of the brand within the region and throughout the dealer network.

She is a ‘people person’ and loves the interaction with the dealers and other stakeholders as well as the support she receives from the company locally and cross border. .

“Since joining the FAW SA team, I can proudly say I feel most satisfied when I review the progress the brand has taken in terms of image, name, reputation and product in the last two years. 

“The brand value of FAW Trucks South Africa has become a powerful force in the commercial sphere and the effort I have made to push our team into the digital future is what I am most proud of. 

“My advice to young women job-seekers: Keep pushing and striving to reach your goal despite any obstacles that may present themselves to you. The unknown territory is always where you grow and learn the most.”

ZELDA COOK: Senior Warranty Administrator

Dealing with warranty claims sometimes involves angry or emotional customers but Zelda’s beaming smile and calm demeanour always keep things on an even keel as she resolves any of the issues raised.

She says her move from being a hairdresser into the motor industry was the best move she ever made and FAW Trucks has always been proactive in its support as her responsibilities increased.

“I love my job and, as a young girl, would not have thought a woman can make a success of it in a man’s world. But, through hard work and dedication I made it and I love every moment of it.  

“I think the personal achievement I am most proud of is my position at FAW head office.  Having the opportunity to positively influence other women in this career and help them build their career to the best of their ability.”

She smiles and winks as she says her job is made a lot easier by the fact FAW Trucks has a very low warranty burn rate and a lot of happy customers.

“My advice to women out there: With hard work and dedication anything is possible. Stay humble and never stop learning.”

MAMMY TSHALALA: Sales Support Co-ordinator

“‘Divine Feminine Energy’ is what I can best be described as – I am a strong-willed and hard-working woman,” says Mammy.

She relishes her work at FAW Trucks as the communication link between the salesperson and the client and is on hand to provide the backup sales needs to ensure the whole process runs smoothly and the client walks away happy.

“For me, progressing upwards and into the corporate environment is a personal achievement but one that is fully supported by FAW, which has guided and helped along my career path.

“My achievements are the small wins and completed tasks I get to tick off at the end of the day.” 

She notes the entire FAW Trucks sales team is extremely dedicated and more than willing to go the extra mile for customers, which means it is easy to take a great product and smoothly put in the hands of the customers.

“At FAW Trucks I simply want to do the best in every task assigned to me and cement myself in my role – I am privileged to be a woman within what is viewed as a male-dominated industry but still makes her own impact, support and encouraged by all the senior management.” 

My advice: Embrace your unique and imperfect self, and invest in yourself.

MINELENE HOLLAND: Sales and Marketing Analyst

“I relish the fact I have a variety of different responsibilities from the normal day-to-day administration to arranging events and travelling. I thoroughly enjoy being part of the FAW team and the transportation industry and feel confident in what I do, knowing the company is there to support me.”

Minelene is both a mother and a wife while working full time. In addition to that, FAW Trucks helped her recently to complete her Matric Certificate, a qualification that will help her grow her career path within the company.

“That has given me a major confidence boost and the certainty that I am an FAW employee the company can always be proud of.” 

My advice: Work hard, and be proud of who you are and what you do.  And most important…never give up.

“They say ‘without trucks, South Africa stops’,” says Li. “However, without the dedication of these and many other leading ladies in our company, FAW SA would not be achieving the success they have to date.”

Caption: L-R: Zelda Cook (Senior Warranty Administrator), Mammy Tshabalala (Sales Support Coordinator), Kirsha Krishna (Digital Marketing Specialist), Minelene Holland (Sales and Marketing Analyst).