FUSO Trucks
Southern Africa yesterday launched its first truck — the FA9–137 — that is fully
imported from India.
Build at the new Daimler Trucks and Bus factory
in Chennai, India, where it is sold as Bharat Benz, the neat lorry was billed as
comfortable for drivers and the fleet managers’ budget alike.
My quick drive around the grounds of the
controversial new Steyn City, built by Auto & General billionaire Douw Stein
between Riversands and Diepsloot, showed up no faults that could dispel these
praises.
At a glittering launch event for dealers on
Thursday night, executive director for Daimler Trucks and Buses Kobus van Zyl
said in the midst of a current downturn in sales, Steyn’s huge investment showed
confidence in South Africa’s future, as indeed did Daimler with the launch of a
new medium commercial truck.
Naeem Hassim, head of Fuso SA, said the new
FA9-137 will set the pace for more “built in India” products in the future. His
couterpart in Daimler, Marcus Stegge, said the FA9–137 is a fusion of passion
and precision.
The FA9–137 is based on the Canter light-duty
truck and incorporates a newly-developed 4D37 diesel engine, boasting
displacement of 3 907 cc, impressive output figures of 100 kW and 420 Nm and a
six-speed manual transmission.
Product manager at Fuso, Harry Makitla, said the
4D37 Daimler engine produces 420 Nm from 1 500 rpm and 100 kW at 2 500 rpm, and
has already proven itself on the tough roads of India, where it carries almost
double the five-ton payload the FA9 is licensed for in South Africa.
Sold only in 4x2 freight carrier configuration,
the six-speed transmission comes with the power transfer that can also drive a
light tipper in construction applications. Most sellers in the transport trade
expect a flat year-end and a drop in sales next year, but Hassim points out
everything is cyclical, and he is confident the economy will turn again.
“When industries grow, the need for transport
grows in turn. We are excited to know that this rugged truck will be fuelling
economies in southern Africa as we showcase the various applications it
fulfils,” said Hassim.
