South Africa getting another locally made Chinese bakkie – Details

Chinese manufacturer Foton has revealed to TopAuto that it will be producing the Tunland V9 double cab in South Africa from 2026 onwards.

Foton re-entered South Africa in mid-2024 and has become one of the fastest-growing bakkie brands in the country during this period.

The company has big plans to use Mzansi as its foothold to expand into the rest of the continent.

In pursuit of this goal, it initially said that it would be producing the smaller Tunland G7 within our borders at the BAIC facility in the Coega Special Economic Zone in the Eastern Cape.

Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation – also known as BAIC – is the parent company of Foton and has been producing cars on local soil for a number of years.

We recently touched base with Foton to find out whether everything is going according to plan with regards to the expansion of the BAIC facility to accommodate the G7.

In response, a spokesperson confirmed that the plant upgrades should be ready by November 2025.

“Production for G7 should commence by mid-December 2025, with production of V Series commencing by the end of first quarter in 2026,” they added.

This last line was particularly interesting, as up to now, Foton hasn’t mentioned anything of the V Series being built in South Africa.

It previously confirmed that the bakkie would eventually be launched in our market, but not that it will be assembled here, too.

This suggests Foton sees plenty of potential in South Africa and the role it can play in its overall goals, which include rather aggressive sales targets.

Foton is aiming for 18,000 domestic sales by 2028 and 40,000 by 2032.

For Africa as a whole, it’s eyeing a collective 40,000 registrations by 2026, 60,000 by 2028, 80,000 by 2029, and 100,000 by 2030.

“We do know that the future can change in an instant. For this reason, we do stay cautiously optimistic by staying with original estimations,” the Foton spokesperson told TopAuto.

Once it enters production, the Tunland V9 will join the likes of the venerable Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Toyota Hilux, and VW Amarok – all of which are manufactured on home turf.

What to expect

The Tunland V9 – also called the Mars V9 depending on the market – is a sizeable double cab measuring 5,541mm long and 2,030mm wide, with a roofline coming in at 1,905mm.

This makes it 191mm longer, 15mm wider, and 19mm taller than the Ford Ranger Wildtrak, positioning the Foton as one of the largest options in the segment.

Under the hood is a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid technologies.

The system generates a respectable 120kW and 450Nm which is on par with the rest of the market.

The top-spec Navara Pro-4X, for instance, offers 140kW and 450Nm, while one of its biggest rivals, the GWM P500, pushes 135kW and 480Nm.

Power is relayed to the axles via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and it’s equipped with a selectable 4×4 system that can be switched from two-wheel to four-wheel drive at the push of a button.

The bakkie is capable of towing up to 3.5 tonnes, and scaling inclines of as much as 31 degrees in 4×4 mode.

The design of the V9 is inspired by American pickup trucks such as the RAM 1500.

It sports a massive front grille with full-LED split blackened headlights, chunky wheel arches, and 18-inch alloys wrapped in all-terrain tyres – all typical of what you’d see in the land of the free and home of the brave.

The interior is rather luxurious, too, offering amenities such as a 14.6-inch central touchscreen with smartphone pairing, a fully digital driver’s display, and racing-style leather seats with heating and ventilation.

It also boasts an AI voice interaction system, wireless device charger, 360-degree cameras, and Level 2.5 advanced driver assistance systems.

The Foton spokesperson confirmed that the Tunland V9 is expected to reach local showrooms by October this year before entering production next year.

Its local pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to the time.