Sydney-based Ateco Automotive now distributes all Foton Motor Company commercial vehicles sold in New Zealand and reportedly is about to take over the LDV van rights for Australia.
Subsidiary Ateco Automotive NZ on 1 May added importing and distribution of the Tunland range of utility vehicles (pickup trucks) to the light trucks it already handled.
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“Ateco will move quickly to expand its Foton dealer network, in line with sales expectations, and to improve back up and service nationally,” the company said in a statement.
Foton, which Ateco said is “China’s largest and most successful manufacturer of commercial vehicles”, was founded in 1996 and has since produced over 5m vehicles. The company has been the top commercial vehicle manufacturer in China for almost a decade and ranks as the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.
It has international suppliers including ZF, Bosch and Continental.
The NZ Foton light trucks line offers two cab widths, two engines, three wheelbases and GVMs ranging from 4.5 to 8.5 tonnes. Engine offerings are Cummins ISF 3.8-litre and 2.8-litre.
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By GlobalDataSeparately, parent company Ateco Automotive reportedly is acquiring the Australian distribution rights to LDV and its V80 Cargo light van range from current importer WMC.
GoAutoNews.com said the change of importer could occur as soon as 1 June after Ateco took over Foton pickup truck importing from Queensland-based FAA Automotive Australia at the beginning of April.
The report noted LDV – once a British commercial vehicle maker descended from British Leyland’s commercial vehicle operations – is a subsidiary of government-backed Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), which also owns the rights to British brand MG, distributed on a small scale in Sydney by Australia Longwell Motor (ALM).
SAIC has joint ventures in China with General Motors and Volkswagen.
LDV was formerly known as Leyland Daf Vehicles and based in England, but was purchased by SAIC in 2009.
Neither WMC or Ateco would comment to GoAuto.
SAIC revives British van for China
