HEAVY DUTY SEGMENT: Image shows the Foton Auman heavy duty trucks. TC Motors expects to capture at least 20 per cent share of the heavy truck market in the state.
SIBU: TC Motors (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd (TC Motors), master dealer for China-made Foton Auman heavy duty trucks and buses in Sarawak, expects to capture at least 20 per cent share of the heavy truck market in the state.
Its deputy general manager, Goh Yong Chai, said the target was achievable with the development of the regional development corridor, Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and its halal hub.
“SCORE is going to tremendously increase construction, infrastructural, oil palm plantation, quarries and food manufacturing activites.
“They will certaintly boost demand for heavy trucks for logistics,” he said at the launch of Foton Auman’s range of heavy-duty and light trucks here yesterday.
The trucks were manufactured by Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd of China, the world’s largest maker of a wide range of light and heavy-duty trucks, buses and light commercial vehicles.
Last year, it sold over 640,000 vehicles. It aimed to sell 1.5 million units by 2015, of which 30 per cent would be for overseas markets.
Goh said since the launch of Foton Auman vehicles in Bintulu recently, TC Motors, a wholly-owned unit of Warisan TC Holding Bhd, had sold 50 units.
“This is a clear indication of the strong potential for the brand to penetrate the local market,” he said.
He said over the last three years, China-made heavy duty trucks had gradually gained acceptance in Sarawak and had captured about 25 per cent share of the segment.
Goh said the brand would be greatly accepted based on Beiqi Foton’s product quality, high performance specifications, innovative design and competitive pricing.
“In February this year, Beiqi Foton and Daimler AG inked a joint venture agreement involving a total investment of about six billion yuan or US$886 million for its heavy-duty trucks to use Daimler’s technology, especially that of diesel engines,” he said.
It 2008, it had also signed a joint-venture agreement with Cummins Engine Co Ltd of the US, he said.
He said TC Motors has set up eight after-sales service centres for the Auman vehicles statewide.
From now until the end of this month, he said, the company would offer special discounts of between RM6,000 and RM9,000 for its different range of dump trucks, prime movers and concrete mixer trucks. — Bernama