Light commercial vehicle original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) Foton affords small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to electric vehicle (EV) options to mitigate the impact of high fuel prices, especially amid the Middle East conflict.

The company notes that by investing in EVs, SMEs can reduce their carbon footprint, improving their sustainability credentials.

As part of its drive to help companies address fuel and sustainability-related concerns, Foton also launched its V-series range of double-cab bakkies in November 2025, including the Tunland V7 and V9 models.

These mild hybrid vehicles are equipped with an extra electric motor and battery, which stores and discharges waste heat energy to boost engine output and/or power the vehicle’s other electrical components.

Effectively, the electric motor and battery reduce the load on the internal combustion engine.

The mild hybrid range is particularly apt for the South African market, as the self-charging solution ensures that the lack of EV charging infrastructure does not affect users, says Foton CEO Marius Smal.

Users and industrial operations can also access a range of affordably priced, multipurpose, light-duty commercial bakkies and trucks from Foton.

Smal says numerous businesses use the company’s commercial vehicle offerings to transport staff members and support operational processes.

Consequently, Foton has expanded its national network to 63 dealers to better supply fleet vehicle solutions to South African companies, especially SMEs.

Since its entry to the market 18 months ago, Foton has put more than 5 000 vehicles on South African roads.

“We have the biggest light commercial vehicle range in South Africa . . . when you browse through all our derivatives and models, there is really a vehicle for every business type and every user,” he says.

Foton offers competitive pricing on its vehicles, without compromising on vehicle performance, with Smal stressing that “customers get entry-level pricing on vehicles that are still capable of meeting their operational requirements, as well as ‘proper’ warranties, service plans and aftersales services”.

He asserts that this competitive pricing strategy is meant to reduce the exorbitant cost of doing business in South Africa.

Meanwhile, as an OEM, Foton must contend with unstable foreign currency exchange rates, which may hinder the launch of new models or derivatives.

The company’s manufacturing and assembly plant, in Gqeberha, mitigates this challenge, as vehicles will be produced locally; however, importing components will likely still be affected by currency fluctuations.

Smal adds that the issues at the ports and on the roads may further exacerbate the efficient delivery of components, given the adverse effects of the Middle East conflict on global supply chains.

“There are very few things that are not a challenge for us in terms of ensuring that everything that we need to conduct business is on hand . . . it requires a lot of money to overcompensate on, for example, stockholding, to ensure that we can continue to operate when these kinds of challenges arise.”

He says that the company will continue to provide a well-balanced product and service offering to South African SMEs.

He assures potential customers of the quality of Foton’s commercial vehicle offerings, noting that while they cost less than the more popular vehicles that have been in the country for decades, they offer comparative performance.

“We are only 18 months old, and there is a lot of scope for us for the future . . . it is an important lesson for us to understand where there might still be a gap for a newer or better model, and we do have plans to introduce a newer model over the next year or so,” he enthuses.