Latest news with #Foton
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
New sales manager for Foton Margate
Jens de Bruyn, the new sales manager at Foton Margate, is ready to take the dealership to great heights on the South Coast. And, with 29 years experience in the motoring industry, he believes that more South Coasters should embrace the brand. 'I am truly excited about Foton's vehicle range. Foton's quality, robustness and back-up make it a cost-effective alternative for buyers across the spectrum, from commercial to lifestyle applications.' He added that another excellent aspect of the vehicles is their extensive use of established technology like the partnership with engine builder Cummins, ZF for gearboxes, BorgWarner for turbos, and other parts of the drivetrain. 'The value aspect will most certainly play a huge role, but it is the quality, look and feel of the bakkies and other vehicles that set them apart. People always worry about the availability of spares. There's no need to stress, we have a 10 000 m² parts distribution centre in Pretoria that will distribute parts to the dealerships in no time,' said Jens. Foton Margate was officially launched in September last year and sells minibus taxis, shuttle busses, panel vans, a 2.5 ton truck, and single and double cab bakkies. Head down to the dealership for more information. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Arriving soon: What to expect from Foton's ‘American' bakkie pair
Positioned above the Tunland G7, the V7 and V9 are both expected to arrive in South Africa at the same time as Australia i.e. between July and September. The Ford F-150-styled Tunland V7 will be positioned between the Tunland G7 and Tunland V9. Image: Foton Australia Approved for South Africa last year, Foton has provided subtle hints of the incoming Tunland V7 and V9 via the opening of a 'register of interest' page on its website in Australia. Shown to the public at the Melbourne Motor Show in April, the V7 and V9, known as the Mars 7 and Mars 9 in China, will go on-sale Down Under between July and September, reportedly the same timeframe for South Africa. Look familiar? The step-ups from the Tunland G7 that goes under the Tunland Yutu name in the People's Republic, the V7 pays a to distinct glance to the Ford F-150, while the V9 appears more than similar to not only the Ram 1500, but the smaller South America-only Ram Rampage. ALSO READ: Pair of 'plus-sized' Foton bakkies coming to South Africa teased Despite having faded into relative obscurity since being announced at Foton's local relaunch event last year, Foton Australia's website confirms both as being the recipient of a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, and with an electronic part-time four-wheel-drive system sourced from BorgWarner. Whereas the Tunland V7 will use a conventional leaf spring rear suspension layout, the V9 will have a coil spring setup similar to the Nissan Navara, and an interior described as 'SUV-like' with 'advanced safety tech' and 'practical features'. Specs Expected to rival the Great Wall Motors (GWM) P500, higher-end versions of the Ford Ranger, its Volkswagen Amarok twin and the Toyota Hilux 48V when sales eventually start, power and torque outputs for Australia will be similar to South Africa, namely 120kW/450Nm. For the V7, buyers will have the option of a six-speed manual gearbox as on the entry-level Tunland G7 or a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic, while the V9 will only be offered with the latter. Known other details is a 3 500 kg tow rating and a ground clearance of 240 mm for both. Ram-aping Tunland V9 will be the marque's eventual flagship in South Africa. Image: Foton Australia Dimensionally, the Tunland V7 measures 5 797 mm long, 1 910 mm high and 2 090 mm wide, with its wheelbase stretching 3 505 mm. By comparison, the Tunland G7 has an overall length of 5 340 mm, height of 1 870 mm, width of 1 940 mm and wheelbase of 3 110 mm. Interior of a Philippine-spec Tunland V9. Image: Foton Philippines Facebook page In the case of the Tunland V9, the Ram look-alike has a length of 5 617 mm, height of 2 090 mm, width of 2 000 mm and wheelbase of 3 355 mm. Known specification items, which will vary depending on the model and trim grade, includes front and rear locking differentials, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated electric front seats, a suite of Level 2.5 autonomous driving systems, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment system. More soon Already on-sale in the Philippines and reportedly from later this month Brazil, according to Brazil, clearer details for South Africa are expected in due course. As a refresher, the Tunland G7 ranges starts at R328 900 for the single cab Hi-Rider and ends at R599 900 for the double cab Limited 4×4 automatic. Additional information from and NOW READ: Foton's most accessible Tunland 4×4 has merit despite flaws
Sky News AU
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
New Sydney buses assembled in China months after Premier Chris Minns' government said fleet will be built in NSW
A fleet of new electric buses set for Greater Sydney have been built in China and not locally, months after NSW Premier Chris Minns' government said the state's South Coast would become a 'manufacturing hub'. The NSW government announced in January that it had awarded vehicle manufacturer Foton a contract to build 126 electric buses at a new manufacturing facility in Nowra. A statement by the government outlined a plan for the buses, which would be added to Greater Sydney's transport network, to be built at the 6,000 square metre bus factory from late 2025. 'The South Coast is set to become a new manufacturing hub for the next generation of public transport,' the statement said. However, pictures posted on Foton Motor's Facebook page, which now appear to have been deleted, have showed over a dozen buses lined up at a Chinese facility before they were shipped to NSW, the Saturday Telegraph has reported. Photos of the buses showed ribbons attached to the front of them, as it appeared a ceremony for the newly completed fleet was held, and another picture showed the unfinished interior of one of the vehicles. It is understood some features such as Opal card reading devices will be added to the buses in NSW. Mr Minns has defended the buses being built overseas, according to the masthead. In January, when the Nowra facility was announced, the Premier said that under his government, bus builders in NSW were 'building them here again.' 'The offshoring of public transport by the former government was a complete disaster, which is why we're building these buses here in NSW – creating local jobs and public transport that works,' Mr Minns said. 'This state of the art facility in Nowra will create ongoing skilled jobs in regional NSW while also delivering emissions free world class public transport for the people of our state." NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen had said 100 jobs would be created once the new facility in Nowra was completed. 'We want our local manufacturers and suppliers to have good opportunities to get involved in building the Zero Emissions Buses that we need. That's why we have structured our zero-emissions bus program in a way that builds our bus manufacturing capacity for the long term,' Ms Haylen said. The Nowra factory site is yet to be developed and features such as seats will be installed on the newly built buses at a temporary site on the South Coast, according to The Saturday Telegraph.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Foton, Eve Energy in battery leasing JV for electric trucks
Chinese state-owned commercial vehicle manufacturer Beiqi Foton Motor Company (Foton) has announced it has agreed to establish a joint venture with Eve Energy Company, a local battery manufacturer, to lease batteries for electric-powered trucks. The joint venture will have a registered capital of CNY 500 million (US$ 70 million), with each partner investing in an equal stake. The new company is expected to offer various battery leasing options to Foton's customers, to help boost sales of battery-powered trucks in the local market. The joint venture aims to help reduce the initial purchase cost of Foton electric trucks by offering a separate leasing programme for the batteries, which typically account for a significant proportion of the overall cost of an electric vehicle. Foton hopes that the joint venture will increase the competitiveness of its battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The two companies have yet to confirm the name of the joint venture, as it awaits approval from the Chinese authorities. Foton recently signed a partnership agreement with Huawei Digital Power Technologies Company to collaborate on the development of advanced electrification technologies for battery-powered trucks and to establish an ultra-fast recharging network. "Foton, Eve Energy in battery leasing JV for electric trucks" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
TechCrunch
27-05-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
Report: TuSimple sent sensitive self-driving data to China after US national security agreement
Self-driving truck startup TuSimple (now CreateAI) sent a trove of sensitive data – effectively the blueprint of an American-made autonomous vehicle system – to a Beijing-owned firm after committing to the U.S. government that it would cease such transfers under a national security agreement, according to The Wall Street Journal. The transfers to Chinese truck manufacturer Foton happened around February 2022, just a week after TuSimple signed the agreement in which U.S. regulators ordered the company to separate its business and technology from China-based employees and partners with firewalls and governance controls. The data sharing continued up until TuSimple's deadline to comply with the agreement six months later, according to hundreds of pages of correspondence that the Journal viewed. A subsequent investigation with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) found the data sharing didn't technically violate the agreement, though TuSimple was fined for other infractions and paid a $6 million settlement without admitting fault, per the Journal. TechCrunch was unable to reach TuSimple, now CreateAI, for comment. Still, the saga of TuSimple's data transfers to China exposes the limits of U.S. safeguards meant to balance foreign investment with national security. And it's not just data that TuSimple has been trying to get across the border. This latest revelation comes eight months after TechCrunch reported that some of TuSimple's shareholders were trying to block the company from transferring its U.S. funds – roughly $450 million at the time – to the company's Chinese subsidiary to fund a pivot to AI animation and content generation. That drama is still unfolding as one of TuSimple co-founders, Xiaodi Hou, fights in court for control over his voting shares so he can push for liquidation of the company. In December 2024, TuSimple officially rebranded to CreateAI. The company has been embroiled in controversy since going public via IPO in 2021. TuSimple started as a China-backed startup founded in 2015 by Hou and Lu Chen, an entrepreneur with ties to Sina Corp. It quickly became an autonomous vehicle industry favorite, managing to raise around $2 billion from a mixture of Chinese and U.S.-based heavy hitters, and was one of the first in the U.S. to successfully complete a fully driverless run on public highways. Techcrunch event Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot for our leading AI industry event with speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cohere. For a limited time, tickets are just $292 for an entire day of expert talks, workshops, and potent networking. Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI Secure your spot at TC Sessions: AI and show 1,200+ decision-makers what you've built — without the big spend. Available through May 9 or while tables last. Berkeley, CA | REGISTER NOW TuSimple's plans took a turn for the worse amid internal struggles and federal investigations into the company's ties with China, leading to its decision to exit U.S. operations and voluntarily delisting from the stock market in January 2024. The goal was to restart self-driving operations in China, but both the CFIUS agreement and other court orders that barred the company from transferring assets – financial or otherwise – to China made it next to impossible to restart operations there, the company has told TechCrunch. The Journal's reporting sheds light on a previously reported controversy regarding Hydron, a Chinese hydrogen trucking startup founded by Chen, which shared an office with TuSimple China. The overlap between Hydron and TuSimple was the subject of the 2022 CFIUS probe, during which TuSimple revealed that its employees spent paid hours working for Hydron in 2021 and shared confidential information with the company. According to documents the Journal viewed, TuSimple negotiated a deal in 2021 between Hydron and Foton to develop autonomous trucks. Foton, a subsidiary of state-owned BAIC Group, has an agreement with a Chinese military university to work on AV tech. Through a combination of emails, Slack messages, and video calls, TuSimple sent partners technical instructions for server dimensions, brake designs, sensors, steering, power supply, and chips, per the Journal. Employees also routinely downloaded autonomy source code developed by their American counterparts. As geopolitical tensions and competition with China rise, TuSimple's ties are serving as a cautionary tale for Washington that has helped drive a shift in U.S. policy, prompting stricter rules on Chinese-linked tech deals and fueling a broader push to block high-risk transactions outright.
