Introducing the JH6 28.500 FT
The truck is the flagship model of FAW, a company with a fascinating history. It was initially known as First Automotive Works because – according to many sources – it was the first major automotive company in China.
The Chinese state-owned vehicle manufacturer (one of the country’s biggest) opened its first plant back in July 1956 under the guidance of China's Central Committee and with assistance from the former Soviet Union. “FAW's creation was an important part of New China's first five-year plan, and was successfully executed with the support of the former Soviet Union through an agreement supporting industrial cooperation signed by China's Chairman Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai with Soviet leaders,” the company’s archives report. Furthermore, its first medium duty truck, the model CA10, “immediately became a daily sight to people throughout China and a symbol of industrial pride to the country”.
Along the way, the company grew from solely producing commercial vehicles to manufacturing passenger cars too. After surpassing the one million unit annual sales figure in 2005, FAW today employs 133,000 people around the world, selling products in over 70 countries with total sales in excess of seven million units worldwide.
FAW has a significant presence in South Africa (this year sees FAW Trucks celebrate 29 years here). In 2012, FAW decided to invest in a manufacturing plant in Coega, outside Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
At the time, this investment was one of the largest by a Chinese company in South Africa. The plant, which was built at a cost of R600 million, covers 30 000m2 and features a state-of-the-art training facility, a body shop and a paint shop. In 2014 the first vehicle rolled off that assembly line.
Earlier this year, the 8,000th locally assembled vehicle was manufactured in Coega. The JH6 28.500 FT that participated in Truck Test – and which we tested – was also built at that facility.
The truck in a nutshell
The FAW JH6 28.500 FT is a 6x4 truck tractor that is ideal for long-haul applications. It’s especially appealing to transport operators who are price sensitive.
Exterior
The most obvious exterior feature is the full floating extended high roof cab, which is great for driver comfort. There’s a large “500 hp” sign emblazoned on the side of the truck – so you know exactly what output the engine is generating at first glance.
Interior
The interior is extremely practical and, to be honest, it’s nicer than we expected. It’s not as luxurious as the German or Swedish trucks but it most definitely does the job (and let’s not forget the price tag; see our verdict at the very end). And there are some nice, neat touches – such as the wood veneer inserts. They look pretty elegant!
The full floating extended-roof sleeper cab with its flat floor is really great; you never feel cramped in the cab. Standard features such as air-conditioning, a radio with a USB port and an air-suspended driver’s seat eliminate unnecessary driver fatigue. We found the seat to be very comfortable and it was easy to select the perfect driving position. Speaking of the seats, the red trim is very funky.
There are two bunks in the JH6 28.500 FT and, while they’re not top end like some of the European trucks, they do an adequate job.
Drivetrain
The FAW JH6 28.500 FT is fitted with the manufacturer’s 6DM3 13-litre six-cylinder common-rail turbocharged and intercooled diesel powerplant. This engine develops 370 kW of power at 1 800 r/min and 2 300 Nm of peak torque at 1 400 r/min. Commonly referred to as China’s most efficient engine, it is fed by two 500-litre fuel tanks.
This engine wowed the transport industry when it achieved a mere 50,68 litres/100 km on Truck Test. (Remember: Truck Test took place on the N3, which is an extremely demanding and undulating trucking route.)
The 6DM3 engine – the chaps at FAW call it “our never-say-die engine” – is manufactured in FAW’s engine plant in Wuxi, China. The chaps at FAW assure us that the level of quality and reliability of engines from this facility is exceptional, as is proven by the fact that a customer in China owns a JH6 28.500FT unit which has done over 3.6 million kilometres without requiring any major service or maintenance. We would really like to see – and drive – that truck!
Transmission
The ZF 12-speed TraXon AMT transmission does an exceptional job; it cannot be faulted. The truck has parabolic spring suspension front and rear to address vehicle weight requirements.
Safety
A full air dual circuit WABCO braking system with ABS is fitted to the JH6 28.500 FT.
Verdict
The list price of the JH6 28.500 FT that participated in Truck Test was a mere R1 779 000, which is astonishing. (As transport operators will attest, other long-haul truck tractors cost over R3 million.)
So, the truck is cheap. But is that enough? Well, it also appears to be durable (as proven by the Chinese chap with this truck which has done over 3.6 million kilometres). The FAW team assures us that parts are readily available and that “maintenance and services will be carried out in a satisfactory and timeous manner”. In addition, we’re told that service dealers are fully equipped, with highly trained technicians on hand for complete servicing and repairs required for not only JH6 28.500FT units, but all other models from the Chinese manufacturer.
But let’s give the final word to Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa: “In our experience, customers in this segment of the market seek truck tractors that are functional and reliable, but also affordable to run and maintain. In addition, they need to offer comfortable and well-equipped cabins, must be easy to operate, provide adequate performance to get the job done and be fuel efficient. The JH6 28.500 FT ticks all these boxes and more – and this translates into increased profits for their owners.”
That’s hard to argue with!
