New truck plant for PE

Chinese truck manufacturer FAW
is financing a US$100-million
investment in a new truck plant to
be built in Port Elizabeth next year,
according to FAW SA operations
manager Mehdi Abbas.
FAW SA is a joint venture between
a local company and Chinese vehicle
manufacturer, FAW, which owns the
majority share in the local operations.
The company started assembling
trucks in Spartan, Johannesburg, in
1993.
According to the company, the new
facility will produce the FAW range
of commercial vehicles, followed by
passenger vehicles.
The plant “will boost FAW’s foot
print on the African continent.
“FAW will use its new production
facility as an export base for the
whole of the African Continent,” a
spokesman said.
The first vehicle is expected to roll
off the assembly line at the Eastern
Cape plant in 2015. The Spartan
facility will then become a parts
distribution centre.