Foton and ZX Chinese utes on the way

Great Wall utes are about to face a great big challenge with two new Chinese rivals scheduled to arrive in Australia in 2012. The workhorse haulers, the ZX Auto GrandTiger and Foton Tunland, have both been confirmed for local sale and are expected to both go on sale in March. 

Foton currently has a presence in Australia with the Aumark light duty truck, which is imported by TransPacific Industries, the company that also brings in Western Star, Dennis Eagle and MAN rigs. 

The Foton ute and the passenger vehicles that are expected to follow will instead be brought into the country by Gold Coast company, FAA Automotive Australia, which picked up the rights after rival importer WMC said the utes would have been too expensive to be compete in the cut-throat Australian commercial vehicle market. 

It is expected the 4x2 Tunlander dual cab will cost more than the bargain basement Great Wall V240, which is $22,990, with a price tag closer to $30,000. There will also be a 4x4 version as well as a single cab. 

The Tunlander is powered by a 2.8-litre Cummins diesel, which is made in China by Cummins rather than under licence, and should give customers confidence. 

ZX Auto's Gran Tiger will be brought into Australia by Perth-based Chinese Automotive Distributors, which is also preparing to import the Geely brand. The GrandTiger is powered by the same Mitsubishi-sourced 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine that is used by Great Wall. 

A diesel option is offered in China although it is not clear whether it will be available in Australia. CAD is not ready to discuss pricing, but the GranTiger is expected to be closer to the Great Wall product than the Foton ute. 

The company says Prodrive, which part owns Ford Performance Vehicles, has helped make some alterations to the aid the ride and handling of the Grand Tiger.