FAW Trucks is the commercial vehicle brand of the FAW Group Corporation, a state-owned automotive manufacturer which is one of the largest automotive corporate groups in China. The company’s global headquarters are based in Changchun, Jilin province in China.
For over 60 years FAW has manufactured more than 7 million trucks and 7 generations of flagship products. The manufacturer boasts a total workforce of nearly 24,800 people and an annual vehicle production capacity of 310,000 trucks.
FAW is one of China’s oldest and largest automotive manufacturers, with registered capital of RMB 35.4 billion yuan and total assets of RMB 457.83 billion yuan.
History
FAW Trucks headquarters and first production facilities were opened on July 15, 1953. FAW’s conception was an important part of New China’s first five-year plan.
The former Soviet Union entered an agreement supporting industrial cooperation signed by China’s Chairman Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai with Soviet leaders. This successful collaboration promoted the progress of construction.
In 1983, the millionth FAW Jiefang truck was rolled off the production line. The 2nd generation of FAW Jiefang truck CA141 switched production vertically in 1986, which completed the second business start-up.
In 1995, FAW Jiefang 3rd generation 6-ton flathead diesel trucks were put into mass production. FAW Jiefang 9-ton, 16-ton flathead diesel trucks were also put into mass production in 1997.
2000-2020
2001 – The 3 millionth FAW Jiefang truck was rolled off the production line.
2002 – FAW Jiefang 4th-generation product J4 “Big Four” enhanced trucks rolled off the production line.
2003 – FAW Jiefang Automobile Co., Ltd. was founded, and the same year saw the introduction of a new truck base.
2004 – FAW Jiefang 5th-generation product AOWEI heavy trucks rolled off the production line.
2007 – FAW Jiefang 6th-generation product J6 high-end heavy trucks rolled off the production line.
2009 – FAW Jiefang J6 rolled off the production line as the 10 millionth representative model of Chinese automobiles.
2011 – The 5 millionth FAW Jiefang truck rolled off the production line.
2014 – The 6 millionth FAW Jiefang truck rolled off the production line. That same year, FAW Jiefang Qingdao Jimo new base was put into production and FAW Jiefang JH6 heavy trucks and J6F light trucks rolled off the line.
2016 – The 60th anniversary of FAW Jiefang Trucks.
2017 – The cumulative production of J6 reached 700,000 units.
2018 – FAW Jiefang 7th generation product J7 high-end heavy card rolled off the production line in Changchun. The 7 millionth FAW Jiefang truck the J7 rolled off the production line at Changchun Truck Plant that same year.
2019 – The 1 millionth FAW Jiefang J6 rolled off the production line at Changchun Truck Plant.
FAW Trucks entry into Africa
On July 10, 2014, the first FAW commercial vehicle was rolled off the assembly line at the FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (PTY) LTD production plant at Coega, in the Eastern Cape. South Africa gained USD60 million in investment from this new and exciting venture.
The FAW plant is one of the most important and largest investments made by a Chinese entity in South Africa. The total investment has been financed by China FAW Group Corporation, the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD-Fund) together with FAW Africa Investment Company LTD. The first phase of the Coega plant, covered 103 000m2 of land and a 28 000m2 plant.
FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (PTY) LTD builds locally to sell locally. The Coega plant has the capacity to build 5 000 units per annum. The assembly plant supplies trucks to the South African and the African market.
FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (PTY) LTD could have gone to Kenya, or Tanzania where FAW has been present for over 30 years. They chose South Africa because of the infrastructure, which is perfectly suited for the task at hand.
