BAIC FOTON Africa Partners Conference Drives Localization Strategy and Business Growth

On October 29, 2026, the BAIC FOTON Africa Partners Conference, themed "On the Path to Excellence," took place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. This notable event gathered almost 700 attendees, including political and business representatives from China and Africa, high-level executives from BAIC and BAIC FOTON, key distributors, industrial partners, and media from 42 African countries.

Accelerating Localization and Partnerships

The conference served as a pivotal platform to advance BAIC FOTON's localization strategy, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships within the African market. Over the past 21 years, BAIC FOTON has secured its position as a leader in commercial vehicle sales in China and has held the top spot for vehicle exports for 15 consecutive years, extending its reach to over 140 countries and regions.

From January to September 2026, the company's export sales exceeded 168,500 units, marking a remarkable 43.6% year-on-year increase. In Africa, BAIC FOTON operates in 54 markets, supported by more than 300 authorized service points. Key milestones during the conference included the signing of major agreements. Chang Rui, CEO of BAIC Group and chairman of BAIC FOTON, announced the finalized delivery of 1,000 heavy trucks to Ghana and 800 trucks to Zambia. Meanwhile, Wu Zongtian, president of BAIC FOTON International, secured new projects related to energy vehicles, including 200 units in Mozambique, 100 each in Ethiopia and Kenya, and a series production project in Zambia focused on ecological transition across various sectors.

Local Manufacturing and Product Expansion

BAIC FOTON is committed to establishing local manufacturing capacities, with plans to utilize technologies such as fuel, natural gas, electric batteries, and hybrid systems. The aim is to leverage South Africa as a hub to enhance operations across Southern Africa, East Africa, North Africa, and West Africa. Two heavy-duty vehicles, the GALAXUS R5 and GALAXUS C5, were officially launched during the conference along with the TUNLAND V PHEV pickup, expanding their offerings for heavy logistics and versatile mobility. BAIC FOTON has partnered with 16 local factories in Africa to strengthen their manufacturing collaborations.

During a strategic signing session, Dai Hongkai, Secretary of the Party of BAIC FOTON International, finalized six localization manufacturing agreements with partners in Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, BAIC FOTON reinforced its vehicle purchase assistance cooperation with WesBank and partnered with DP World to establish a spare parts warehouse in Africa, providing comprehensive support to African users.

Enhancing Market Presence

The event highlighted BAIC FOTON's growing presence in the African automotive market. A ceremony to award outstanding partners was held to recognize their efforts in key account development, promotion of new energy vehicles, after-sales services, and distributor collaboration. Luo Yunjie, vice president of BAIC FOTON International, announced the launch of the African segment of the FOTON GALAXUS Global Experience event, presenting flags to representatives from Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Moving forward, BAIC FOTON is committed to deepening its local manufacturing operations and industrial collaborations, enhancing regional supply and operational service systems, and embarking on a shared journey towards "On the Path to Excellence."

The BAIC FOTON Africa Partners Conference not only showcases the brand’s leadership in the automotive sector but also signals a bold step towards fostering sustainable growth and local partnerships across the continent. The roadmap set during this event is geared towards achieving greater collaboration and operational excellence in the increasingly competitive African market.