Eastern Cape plant marks its 25 000th locally manufactured vehicle
Gqeberha, Eastern Cape – August 2026. The year 1994 is not only of historic significance in the South African political sphere, but marks an important milestone in the local commercial vehicle manufacturing industry in this country. In July 2014, a single FAW 15.180FL freight carrier produced in this country rolled off a newly commissioned assembly line in the Coega Special Economic Zone. What follows bears testimony of the power of belief in local capability, China-Africa integration and investment in the logistics landscape of Southern Africa. Flawless execution and continued innovation tailored to meet the needs of fleets operating in the harsh long-haul conditions in Southern Africa has earned FAW Trucks a place in our commercial vehicle manufacturing history. Then we reach the next significant milestone: in August 2026, the 25 000th unit rolled off the extended manufacturing plant in Nelson Mandela Bay. What lies between the first and the most recent milestone can best be described as one of the most inspiring success stories in the South African freight carrying and manufacturing industry.
There are milestones that measure output, and there are milestones that measure belief. This one does both.
For FAW Trucks Southern Africa, the 25 000th Coega-built unit is not merely a production statistic in isolation. It is the cumulative result of 32 years of product development in South Africa, twelve years of local assembly, a steadily widening dealer and aftersales footprint, and a customer base that has grown from early adopters into some of the country’s most demanding long-haul fleets. Every unit on that counter represents an operator who chose FAW – and, in most cases, came back to expand their fleet with confidence.
A steady climb, then major momentum
The plant’s trajectory tells the story of accelerating market acceptance and manufacturing capability, especially over the last three years:
| Date | Cumulative units produced |
| 2014 | 1 000 |
| Aug 2016 | 2 000 |
| Jul 2017 | 3 000 |
| Aug 2018 | 4 000 |
| Jul 2019 | 5 000 |
| Apr 2020 | 6 000 |
| Apr 2021 | 7 000 |
| Feb 2022 | 8 000 |
| Nov 2023 | 10 000 |
| Apr 2024 | 15 000 |
| Jul 2025 | 20 000 |
| Jun 2026 | 25 000 |
Manufacturing the most recent 5 000 units took under a year. This acceleration is underpinned by a straightforward commercial reality: South African fleet operators buy on the basis of total cost of ownership, not only price. Fuel efficiency, parts availability, uptime, support coverage and residual value decide the purchase – and FAW has spent a decade competing on precisely those terms. Consistently refining their products to meet the rigorous demands of long-haul Southern African freight operations has seen the development of new models building on the success of its predecessors, and has been rewarded with substantial market confidence demonstrated by increased demand.
The heavy end of the range has led the charge. The JH6 28.500FT established FAW as a serious extra-heavy contender, and operators running the JH6 500FT and 550FT have reported real-world returns in terms of durability, cost competitiveness, support, fuel efficiency and quality which have significantly contributed to total cost of ownership. In March 2026, the company unveiled the new generation J7 28.550FT as the latest addition to the flagship range, purposefully engineered to deliver superior fuel efficiency, enhanced safety features, extended service intervals and exceptional reliability: this latest model offers a 12.52-litre, 407 kW truck tractor with a ZF 12-speed automated truck manual transmission, 1 200 litres of fuel capacity, and warranty cover of up to 36 months or 600 000 km. The 25 000th unit therefore arrives at the start of a product cycle rather than the end of one.
“A number our customers built with us”
“We are proud to announce that the twenty-five thousand vehicles is a number our customers built with us,” says Mr Xin Huang, COO of FAW Trucks Southern Africa. “Every unit was ordered by an operator who trusted us with their business, was expertly assembled by a team here in the Eastern Cape, and backed by a dealer who stands behind it long after delivery. That combination – local manufacturing, local people, local support – carried us from the first unit in 2014 to this one, and it is what will carry us to the next milestone. We view the 25 000th vehicle roll-off as a powerful demonstration of how sustained investment, customer confidence, local manufacturing and strategic vision can create long-term industrial success in South Africa.”
An investment that keeps compounding
The Coega facility opened in 2014 at a cost of R600 million, funded by the China FAW Group Corporation and the China-Africa Development Fund, and remains one of the largest single Chinese industrial investments in South Africa. This high-value investment supports the business synergy between South Africa and China, contributing to the confidence in quality local manufacturing and importantly also investing in the training and employment of local talent.
The Coega plant was intentionally established in the Eastern Cape as part of the Nelson Mandela Mandate to boost economic development in this region. The 30 000 m² plant houses a body shop, a paint shop and a specialised training centre. This dedicated manufacturing environment ensures that the highest global standards of quality control, precision engineering and consistency are met, delivering units that meet the highest international benchmarks for durability, safety and performance.
In November 2024 the company committed a further R200 million as a foundation to enable growth. This facilitated the expansion of the Coega plant and entailed extending production lines across 12 key models, enlarging storage, digitising production and upgrading training facilities with a view to lift annual capacity from 5 000 units toward a target of 8 000 by 2028. The Coega Development Corporation has reported that roughly 2 500 people have been trained through the facility to date, demonstrating its commitment to continue investing in local manufacturing expertise. Furthermore, the cultural amalgamation of the two nations has resulted in the rapid progress of the Coega teams, and witnessing the growth and progress of its employees has been one of the most rewarding aspects in the development of the facility’s output and capability.
FAW Trucks’ continued investment in the logistics landscape of Southern Africa has greater meaning when considering the broader context: for Nelson Mandela Bay, it means industrial employment, artisan skills and a local supplier base. For the wider region, it means a South African plant that serves not only the domestic market but also export to customers across SADC and the Indian Ocean islands, supported by the extended dealer network from Lusaka to Maputo and throughout the African continent.
What 25 000 units actually means
To customers, it means a track record long enough to check and proof of long-term durability and quality. To dealers, it means dependable local supply and shorter lead times. To employees in Gqeberha, it means skilled work in the commercial vehicle manufacturing sector. To South Africa, it is a compelling example of a rapidly evolving business successfully earning customer confidence and achieving sustained growth with an exciting upward trajectory. And to FAW’s global organisation, it means the South African operation has earned its place as a strategic manufacturing hub with its 25 000 units contributing to the global company’s recently achieved milestone of a 70 000 truck roll-off. It demonstrates that the Coega plant is becoming an increasingly important part of the brand’s international manufacturing footprint, actively contributing to the legacy of FAW and proving that FAW South Africa forms part of a successful global manufacturing ecosystem.
The next chapter
With capacity expanding, a new flagship in market and export demand rising, FAW Trucks Southern Africa is treating 25 000 as a waypoint rather than a summit. The plant, the people, the network and the product are already in place for the expansive possibilities that are sure to follow. Few success stories are as captivating as that of an invested brand, and we look forward to milestone after milestone illustrating FAW’s consistent dedication to the sustainable enrichment of the South African economy and landscape.
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About FAW Trucks Southern Africa
FAW Vehicle Manufacturers South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a leading provider of medium, heavy, and extra heavy commercial vehicles, offering robust, reliable, and cost-effective transport solutions tailored for Southern African conditions. As a division of the Fortune 500 FAW Group Corporation, the company combines global expertise with local manufacturing capabilities at its state-of-the-art Coega facility in Gqeberha. With an extensive dealer network and a strong focus on customer support, FAW Trucks Southern Africa remains committed to driving economic growth and keeping businesses moving across the region.
