Foton Motor to introduce heavy trucks into S. Africa

Another compelling reason for the truck market to shift in China's favour, notes Meng, is the fact that growing emerging markets are demanding more trucks, but that  the "whole heavy-duty truck market has changed".

He says most of the well-known truck brands, such as MAN, Scania and Daimler, have "pushed into the premium truck segment, leaving the global medium and low-end of the market empty, and ready for Chinese brands.

"If we provide a product of acceptable quality, with good after-sales service, we can do well. We are confident that we will be able to fill this gap and become number one."

Haiyang notes that vehicle sales in China – cars and trucks included – are likely to increase by 7,6 percent this year compared with 2008, but "that, in reality, commercial vehicles will increase less than this. The world is short of money. Maybe next year the global market will stabilise – I'm hopeful."

(Creamer Media)