Its return to South African announced back in February, Foton officially unveiled is product offensive for South Africa at a gala premiere in Johannesburg on Wednesday (26 June).
Again focusing on commercial vehicles in spite of producing passenger vehicles in China, the brand returns under the auspices of Proton importer, Combined Motor Holdings (CMH), with aftermarket support by Mandarin Parts Distributors.
Levering off of its subsidiary relation with Beijing Automotive Group Corporation (BAIC), with eventual plans to assemble vehicles locally in complete knockdown, semi-knockdown and complete build-up kit forms at the formers Gqeberha plant in the Eastern Cape, the initial line-up comprises the Miler, eTruckmate and eAumark light-duty trucks, as well as Asambe taxi, View minibus and the all-electric eView panel van.
Taking centre though, the unveiling also marks the return of the Tunland bakkie quietly dropped from the South African market before a major a facelift in 2018.
The eventual first model of a three-tier bakkie strategy set to comprise of the Tunland V9 and G9 due in 2025, the newly named Tunland G7, which debuted in the Peoples Republic as the Yutu in 2019, will be offered in both single and double cab bodystyles powered by a solitary turbodiesel engine hooked to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearbox.
