#China #Beijing #Commercial Vehicles #Foton Motor #global strategy

FOTON Global Partner Conference 2026: Drive to Great

On November 9, 2025, FOTON Motor hosted its 2026 Global Partner Conference in Beijing under the theme "Drive to Great." The event attracted over 2000 participants from more than 140 countries, including dignitaries such as FOTON Motor's Chairman Chang Rui and CEO Wu Xibin, alongside key representatives from ApexBrasil and the South African embassy in Beijing. This gathering represented a significant step forward in the strategic modernization of FOTON’s development, emphasizing its commitment to create a world-class ecosystem in the commercial vehicle sector.

Key Highlights of the Conference

The conference served as a platform for FOTON to unveil its futuristic vision for the commercial vehicle industry and to enhance its international partnerships. Chairman Chang Rui introduced the FOTON Global Strategy Report, outlining bold objectives to ensure that by 2030, vehicles powered by new energy would constitute over 50% of their product line, with foreign sales exceeding 300,000 units. The vision is ambitious, aiming to establish FOTON as a leading company in the commercial vehicle space, distinguished by top-tier design concepts and manufacturing processes of superior quality.

As part of this transformation, FOTON plans to accelerate investments in international operations. The next five years will see the creation of over 10 manufacturing bases across key regions including Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union. Additionally, an ecosystem comprising spare parts, used vehicles, fleet management, and related services will be developed, enhancing product competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

Focus on Regional Collaborations

FOTON's strategy emphasizes deepening regional cooperation and expanding into emerging markets. The company highlights Brazil and South Africa as pivotal strategic pillars for its global expansion efforts. During the conference, Victor Queiroz from ApexBrasil and Mogamat Mahdi Basadien from the South African embassy voiced strong support for FOTON's increasing local investments, showing confidence in the company's contributions to economic growth in these regions.

Queiroz underscored FOTON's remarkable success in Brazil, especially its localized production of the first light-duty truck, the ALL-New Aumark, as a critical milestone for establishing Chinese commercial vehicle brands in Brazil. He noted government initiatives aimed at promoting green technologies and energy-efficient vehicles, aligning well with FOTON's strategy.

Meanwhile, Basadien highlighted the significance of FOTON's assembly plant in South Africa, calling it one of the most vital automotive investment projects in the country in nearly four decades. He emphasized that the local assembly of FOTON's pick-up is a historical milestone, further positioning South Africa as a regional manufacturing hub. The partnership aims to foster sustainable development across the African continent through collaboration in areas such as localized parts manufacturing and vehicle development.

Technological Innovations Driving the Future

At the conference, FOTON also discussed its commitment to innovation in product offerings. Lu Zhenghua, Executive Vice President of FOTON Motor, paid special attention to global trends in the commercial vehicle market, including the rapid surge of new energy vehicles, advancements in smart technology, and the integration of multiple energy approaches. FOTON has set a strategic direction focused on internationalization, new energy resources, and intelligent technology development.

This includes a multi-faceted approach that integrates electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel technologies. The company has conducted extensive testing with its IECO three-in-one system, showcasing impressive efficiency levels, while its HWP technology aids in reducing driver fatigue and transforming vehicles into mobile productivity platforms.

FOTON’s innovations reflect its commitment to not just meet but exceed user expectations with vehicles that are more energy-efficient, have longer ranges, integrate higher intelligence, and ensure improved safety.

Final Thoughts: A Solid Road Ahead

In closing, Fu Jun, Vice President and President of FOTON International, shared the ambitious goals for the company by 2026, aiming to achieve 200,000 sales abroad, coupled with significant growth in heavy-duty vehicle segments and other categories. With comprehensive plans for expanding into eight markets, FOTON is poised to advance its industrial development and continue to lead the transformation towards green and sustainable transportation solutions.

This conference not only highlights FOTON’s strategy to position itself at the forefront of the global commercial vehicle market but also aims to amplify the influence of Chinese enterprises in the green and intelligent transformation of the logistics industry worldwide.