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Future models - Foton - e AumanBigger Foton electric trucks on the wayFoton announces 8.5-tonne and 18-tonne electric trucks, here in second half of 202519 May 2025 AS PART of what it refers to as a new model “assault” that will amplify its lead in Australia's electric truck market, Foton Mobility Distribution (FMD) has announced an expanded line-up that will soon include 8.5-tonne and 18-tonne battery electric models.
The new trucks will arrive in the second half of 2025 with as yet undisclosed pricing or specification but may hold greater appeal for fleets not seeking or able to gain Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding.
They will join the existing Foton T5 4.5 tonne GVM electric truck and are expected to help FMD build on a market-leading position in Australia's electric truck space by “doubling down on its commitment to zero-emission transport”.
So far, the Foton T5 electric truck has been popular in Australia, securing a customer base that includes major Australian corporations such as Woolworths, Bunnings and Ausgrid.
“We had the 4.5-tonne GVM, which a lot of companies haven’t been able to bring here, and that’s the biggest segment of the light truck market,” said FMD CEO and Founder Neil Wang.
Moving onwards and upwards, the first of the newly announced larger Foton electric trucks to arrive here will be an 18-tonne variant, available with two wheelbases (4500mm and 5400mm), filling another void in the electric truck segment and, according to FMD, catering to diverse applications.
The model is powered by a 281kWh CATL battery that is expected to meet the power and range requirements of medium-duty zero-emission trucks.
It is available to order now, with arrivals due in September and trials with several large medium-duty truck operators to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.
An 8.5 tonne model to follow the 18-tonner is designed to meet the needs of the light-duty truck segment above 4.5 tonnes.
In Australia, 8.5-tonne trucks are commonly used for various applications including construction, delivery, and general freight transport, including last-mile deliveries.
FMD says customer interest from major last-mile companies and electricity infrastructure companies has been substantial, with many welcoming the higher GVM. Timing for the 8.5-tonne variant is scheduled for later in 2025.
Of the 700,000 vehicles Foton produced last year, 20,000 were heavy new energy vehicles (NEV), which the manufacturer plans to increase to 90,000 annually by 2030.
“This means Australia can cherry pick suitable models from the evolving line-up of new energy options,” said Mr Wang.
FMD is the exclusive distributor for all Foton zero-emission trucks and buses in Australia and has already achieved significant successes, such as a recent supply agreement for 126 Foton electric city buses to Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
Additionally, in collaboration with Metronet, Holcim Concrete is currently operating a 32-tonne electric Foton concrete agitator truck on the Byford Rail Extension Project, which “demonstrates the potential for emissions reduction, noise reduction, and sustainable change”.
In the background of the announced range expansion, FMD’s corporate structure has been evolving with CEO and founder Neil Wang reacquiring a 50 per cent shareholding in the company, alongside bus industry stalwart Scott Riley who joins the FMD board as a director, bringing decades of public transport experience.
Following this restructure, the KRW Motor Group becomes the umbrella for all Foton heavy zero emission trucks and buses, rigid trucks and prime movers along with responsibility for final assembly of Foton buses at a new plant in Nowra NSW.
At the recent Brisbane Truck Show, KRW announced the introduction of a second Chinese truck brand, DFAC, beginning with diesel models, and has plans to import both electric and hydrogen powered prime movers into Australia and New Zealand in the future.
FMD is not part of Inchcape Australasia’s distribution arrangement for diesel-powered Foton trucks, nor the brand’s utes and vans that will include both electric and internal combustion engine models.  Read more5th of January 2025  Foton Aumark S priced for AustraliaAumark S cab-chassis and tipper light trucks from Foton available from $51,700All future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chrysler Chevrolet Dodge Citroen Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton Haval Great Wall Honda Holden Hyundai HSV Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia Lexus Land Rover Mazda Maserati Mercedes-Benz McLaren Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Saab Rolls-Royce Smart Skoda Subaru SsangYong Tesla Suzuki Volkswagen Toyota VolvoMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
Click to shareFoton modelsAll future modelsAlfa RomeoAbarthAudiAston MartinBMWBentleyChryslerChevroletDodgeCitroenFerrariDSFordFiatFPVFotonHavalGreat WallHondaHoldenHyundaiHSVIsuzuInfinitiJeepJaguarLamborghiniKiaLexusLand RoverMazdaMaseratiMercedes-BenzMcLarenMiniMGNissanMitsubishiPeugeotOpelProtonPorscheRenaultRamSaabRolls-RoyceSmartSkodaSubaruSsangYongTeslaSuzukiVolkswagenToyotaVolvoMotor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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