DFAC trucks ready for tough Aussie market

Australia’s newest truck brand says it has left no stone unturned in product and engineering as its first Chinese-built 4.5-tonne model gets set to hit local roads later this year.

DFAC Australia said its new Captain 45 model has been rigorously tested with over 800,000 kms of real world and simulated testing both in China and on Australian roads.

It said the program included 14,000 individual component level tests to ensure the best performance, safety and reliability for the wide range of applications Australian customers demand.

As the second largest truck manufacturer in China, DFAC has produced 1.2 million vehicles which are sold in over 100 countries.

Part of Dongfeng Automobile Company, which was first established in 1968, DFAC boasts its own research and development facility covering 733,000 square metres (73.3 hectares). It includes dynamic testing areas, high-speed ovals, durability sections with various road types, and Level-5 autonomous driving evaluation capabilities.

Based in the central Chinese Hubei Province city of Xiangyang, the R&D department sits alongside manufacturing to fully integrate with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) joint ventures that includes Cummins, Dana and Eaton.

Experts from DFAC as well as other OEM partners used the Xiangyang facility, as well as the Turpan Basin which is known as the “Flaming Mountains” for both high altitude and hot weather evaluation.

DFAC Australia said the test and development program was not only used in developing the Captain 45, but also future models that will come to Australia over the next two years.

Australian distributor, KRW Motor Group, has overseen the product development both in China as well as local based trials with pre-production vehicles across the country over 18 months.

“The work that has gone into bringing the first DFAC models to the Australian market has been extensive to say the least,” DFAC Truck General Manager Bill Gillespie said.

“The result is a brand that is not only up to the job, but in many respects will exceed the expectation of customers.”

“The 7-year or 250,000km warranty offer is proof of the quality of the Captain range - this is industry leading,” Gillespie continued

“Truck quality is backed by a dedicated team of dealers and service centres that right now totals 17 sites. We are confident that number will grow extensively in the coming 12 months."

Part of the testing process has included the WorkReady allow tray model for the Captain 45.

“The genuine alloy tray integrates for performance and the wide range of safety systems including AEBS system, pedestrian and cyclist detection, all of which are standard on the Captain range,” he said.

“Yes we are confident in the DFAC product, but we understand the need for servicing and repairs and have available an extensive locally-based inventory of parts and consumables to the network."

The ADR compliant, car licence-friendly DFAC Captain 45 truck runs a Cummins 2.5-litre Euro 6 turbo-diesel engine, Dana axles and a six-speed Eaton FAST AMT transmission, and can tow a trailer weighing up to 3500kg.

As announced in June the Captain 45 WorkReady model, which includes an Australian assembled aluminum tray, will have a competitive launch price of $59,990 drive-away.

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